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AURELIA    G.    MAC 


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THE  ALETHEIA: 

SPIRIT  OT  TRUTIi 


A    SERIES   OF    LETTERS    IN    WHICH   THE   PRINCIPLES 

OF  THE  UNITED   SOCIETY   KNOWN    AS   SHAKERS 

ARE   SET   FORTH    AND    ILLUSTRATED. 


Bv   AURELIA    G.    MACE. 


God  is  our  Infinite  Mother ;    She  will  hold  us  in  her 
arms  of  blessedness  and  beauty  forever  and  ever. 

Theodore  Parker. 


SECOND     Li~>]TtOW. 


FARMINGTON,    MAINE: 

PRESS    OF   THE   KNOWLTON  &  McLEARY   CO. 

1907. 


Copyright,  1899, 
By  Knowlton,  McLeary  &  Company. 


TO 
MY    TEN,"    GEMS    OF    PRICELESS    WORTH, 
I   AFFECTIONATELY   DEDICATE   THIS 
BOOK. 

AURELIA. 


INTRODUCTION. 

With  the  object  in  view  that  the  Shakers  may  become  better 
known,  this  book  is  offered  to  the  pubHc. 

The  first  part  comprises  a  series  of  letters  that  were  pub- 
lished in  TJie  Messengei',  a  Bangor  (Maine)  paper,  during  the 
years  1883  and  1884.  Then  are  inserted  communications  and 
short  articles  that  have  been  published  from  time  to  time  in  the 
Shaker  Manifesto. 

It  is  presumed  that  by  reading  this  book  one  can  obtain  a 
clear  and  correct  idea  of  the  Shakers'  belief  and  manner  of  life, 
and  of  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Societies. 

We  have  been  with  you  more  than  one  hundred  years,  and 
still  are  not  understood. 

The  mission  of  the  Shaker  is  to  live  the  pure  life  which 
Jesus  lived  and  taught.  Its  meaning  is  to  subdue  and  triumph 
over  the  animal  nature  in  man,  and  to  develop  the  spiritual 
nature.  This  is  dune  by  self-denial.  The  self-denial  that  the 
Prophet  Daniel  lived  out,  which  made  him  the  perfect  man, 
greatly  beloved,  beautiful  in  form  and  feature,  who  could  stand 
before  the  kings  of  the  earth  and  confound  them,  and  reveal 
what  was  hidden  in  the  past  and  in  the  future. 

As  a  Society,  we,  at  Sabbathday  Lake,  have  for  many  years 
been  struggling  for  an  existence,  believing  that  we  have  some- 
thing good  and  pure  and  beautiful  to  give  unto  the  world  when 


X  .  INTRODUCTION. 

the  world  is  able  to  receive  it.  "  All  cannot  receive  the  saying. 
He  that  can  receive  it,  let  him  receive  it,"  said  Jesus.  The  line 
is  drawn  and  the  life  clearly  defined.  A  man  is  a  Shaker,  or 
he  is  not.  If  he  falls  from  the  high  standard,  even  in  spirit,  he 
ceases  to  be  a  Shaker  until  restored  by  the  forgiving  love  of 
God. 

In  the  service  of  the  Society  I  have  been  at  the  Poland 
Spring  House  many  times  during  the  past  twenty  years,  and 
have  received  great  kindness  and  consideration  from  the  people 
I  have  met  within  its  walls.  I  have  taken  note  of  the  grand 
and  beautiful  life  fortune  bestows  upon  her  favored  ones.  I 
have  had  intercourse  with  the  cultured,  the  refined  and  learned, 
and  have  great  respect  for  the  noble  class  of  people  I  meet 
here  from  year  to  year.  It  has  been  with  great  joy  that  I  have 
received  many  favors  in  behalf  of  my  people,  for  which  I  am 
ever  mindful  and  grateful. 

Special  thanks  are  due  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Poland 
Springs,  also  to  Mrs.  George  Gregg,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  Mrs. 
J.  Otis  Swift,  of  Lewiston,  Maine,  for  encouragement  and  assist- 
ance. 

With  a  sincere  desire  that  some  good  and  no  harm  may  be 

the  result,  this  work  is  respectfully  submitted. 

A. 

March,  1899. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction,  ........  9 

Poem — Sabbathday  Lake,  .  .  .         .          .         .  17 

Letter  L — Our  Home  at  Sabbathday  Lake,  .  .  .  19 

Letter  IL — The  Duality  of  God — The  Christ  Spirit,  .  22 

Letter  IIL — Question  Answered  by  Question — Mother  Ann 

Lee,  25 

Letter    IV. — W.    D.    Howells — Lafayette — Mother    Ann's 

Voyage  to  America,  ....  29 

Letter  V. — Constellations — Aristotle — Eternal  Punishment — 

The  Good  Prevailing,  .  .  .  .  33 

Letter  VI. — The  Three  Cardinal  Principles — Confession — 

Celibacy — Community  of  Interests,  .         .  37 

Letter  VII. — The    Atonement — The    God    of   Moses — The 

God  of  Jesus,        ......  42 

Letter  VIII. — New  Centre  Dwelling — School — Nathan  Mer- 
rill  and  the  Founders  of  the  Society — Elder 
Otis  Sawyer,  ......  45 

Letter  IX. — Origin  of  the  Shakers,  ....  49 

Letter  X. — Mother  Ann's  Persecutions  in  England,  .  53 

Letter  XI. — Royal's  River — Noble  Pioneers  of  the  Town — 
First   Shaker    Meeting    in    New  Gloucester — 
Elder  Elisha  Pote— Death  of  Elder  Otis  Saw- 
yer— Vision  of  Mother  Ann,  .  .  .  57 
Poem — In  the  Woods  of  Pine,               .....  62 


XII 


CONTENTS. 


Letter  XII. — Protestation  I,               .....  63 

Letter  XIII. — Protestation  II,             .....  66 

Fathers  and  Mothers,  an  Hundred  Fold  Greeting,             .  69 
The  Christ  of  the  Ages — Creeds — Baptism — The  Eucharist 
— Equality    of    the    Sexes — The    Bible — The    Arts 

and  Sciences,       .         .         .         .         .          .         .  71 

Thy  Will  be  Done,            .......  75 

Angels  of  the  New  Dispensation,       .         .         .         .         .  77 

Letter  to  the  Editor  of  The  Manifesto,            .         .         .  79 

Tribute  to  Elder  Giles  B.  Avery,               ....  82 

Letter  to  Count  Leo  Tolstoi,            .....  84 

Jesus — Buddha — The  Sermon  on  the  Mount,      ...  86 
"  The  Shakers  and  their  Homes,"  by  Charles  Edson  Robinson,     88 

Address  to  the  School  at  Sabbathday  Lake,      .         .          .  91 

Invocation,       .........  93 

New  Year's  Greeting,       .......  95 

Winter,             .........  97 

Visit  to  the  Society  at  Alfred,         .          .          .         .         .  100 

To  THE  Cedars  of  Lebanon, 103 

Dedication  at  Poland  Springs  of  the  Maine  State  Build- 
ing— Also  the  Celebration  of  the  Centennial 
of  the   Ricker  Family  as  Hotel  Proprietors 

in  the  town  of  Poland,  Maine,          .          .          .  105 
The   Shaker   Settlements   of   Canterbury   and  Enfield, 

New  Hampshire,            .         .         .         •          .  no 

Poem — The  Day  of  Judgment,              .          .         .         .          .  116 
The  Story  of  Granville  Merrill — Which  is  an  account  of 

one  of  the  Miracles  of  the  Age,        .          .          .  119 
The  Mission  and  Testimony  of  the  Shakers  of  the  Twen- 
tieth Century  to  the  World,       .          .         .  130 
Poem — Christ,  the  Spirit, — Jesus,  the  Man,         .         .         .  145 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


AuRELiA  G.  Mace, 

Sabbathday  Lake, 

Poland  Spring  House, 

Hester  Ann  Adams, 

Elder  John  Whiteley, 

John  B.  Vance, 

Shaker  Meeting, 

Eliza  Ann  Taylor, 

Eldress  Dorothy  Ann  Durgin, 

Meeting- House  and  Center  Dwelling, 

Mary  Ann  Gillespie, 

Elder  William  Dumont, 

Elder  Otis  Sawyer, 

Elder  Abraham  Perkins, 

Elder  Joshua  Bussell, 

Sisters  of  the  Sabbathday  Lake  Community, 

Trustees'  Office, 

Eldress  Lizzie  Noyes, 

Mary  Ella  Douglas, 

Some  of  Our  Children  and  their  Teachers, 

Elder  Henry  C.  Blinn, 

Giles  B.  Avery, 

Sisters  of  the  Community  at  Sabbathday  Lake, 

Our  Children,  ..... 


Frontispiece 

17 
24 
28 
32 
36 
38 
40 

44 
48 

52 
56 
60 
62 
64 
68 

71 

72 
76 
78 
80 
82 

84 
88 


XIV 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Attending  Shaker  Meeting,  1886, 

Eldress  Harriet  Goodwin,         .... 

Elder  Henry  G.  Green,  .... 

Cedars  of  Lebanon,  Elder  Evans  in  the  Center, 

The  Queen's  Daughters  in  Raiment  of  Needlework, 

Maine  State  Building, 

David  Parker,  Trustee,     . 

Lucy  Ann  Shepherd,  Trustee, 

Elder  Joseph  Holden, 

William  Dumont, 

Elder  Joseph  Brackett, 


92 
96 
100 
103 
104 
108 
112 
114 
121 
124 
128 


THE    ALETHEIA. 


SABBATHDAY  LAKE. 


Upon  thy  shores,  O  lovely  lake, 

This  calm,  midsummer  day, 
I  seem  to  hear  a  voice  which  tells 

Of  ages  passed  away  : 

That,  long  before  the  birth  of  men, 
Through  many  waiting  years, 

You  saw  the  forests  rise,  and  heard 
The  music  of  the  Spheres ; 

And  then  the  Indian  came,  from  whence 

The  mystery  is  sealed. 
We  question  history,  old  and  new. 

It  has  not  been  revealed. 

But  this  we  know,  he  trod  these  shores, 
His  fields  of  maize  here  grew ; 

You  saw  the  wigwam  in  the  shade, 
You  bore  the  bark  canoe. 

And  here  by  simple  nature  taught. 

Ere  science  walked  abroad, 
In  rolling  waves  and  thunderings. 

He  heard  the  voice  of  God. 

Time  fled,  another  race  appeared, 

The  former  passed  away, 
And  hunters  gave  the  lake  its  name, — 

The  name  of  Sabbathday. 


1 8  THE    ALETHEIA. 

For  here  they  meet  those  sturdy  men 

Of  Puritanic  race. 
Each  Sabbath  found  them  here,  this  spot 

Became  their  trysting-place. 

The  years  rolled  by,  the  village  grew, 

The  mighty  forests  fell. 
You  saw  the  steeple  rise  afar. 

You  heard  the  Sabbath  bell. 

You  heard  the  whistle  of  the  train 

Upon  its  iron  rails. 
The  wilderness  was  all  aglow 

Along  the  hills  and  dales. 

O  lovely  lake,  I  walk  thy  shores, 
This  calm  midsummer  day. 

And  muse  on  wonders  thou  hast  seen 
In  ages  passed  away. 


LETTER  I. 

OUR  HOME  AT  SABBATHDAY  LAKE. 

West  Gloucester,  January,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Bangor  Messenger : — 

I  thought  you  would  Hke  to  know  something  of  the 
Shaker  Order,  and  therefore  write  you  a  letter  from  the 
heart  of  the  village  of  this  peculiar  people.  I  am  a 
Shaker  myself,  have  been  from  childhood,  and  know 
whereof  I  speak. 

Nothing  could  be  more  pleasing  to  us  than  to  have  all 
know  of  the  hope  that  is  in  us,  of  the  well-spring  from 
which  we  drink,  that  has  kept  this  community  in  gradual 
growth  for  more  than  one  hundred  years.  It  is  favor- 
able to  any  people  to  be  liked  best  where  they  are  best 
known.     We  find  this  to  be  the  case  with  us. 

Shaker  Village,  in  West  Gloucester,  is  very  pleasantly 
situated  on  the  eastern  side  of  a  small  hill,  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  higher  land.  I  can  no  better  describe  the 
place  than  in  the  words  of  an  aged  Shaker  brother,  Cur- 
tis Cramer,  now  visiting  us,  from  the  society  in  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.     He  says:     "Take  a  large  wooden  bowl  and 


20  THE    ALETHEIA. 

invert  a  smaller  one  inside  of  it,  and  you  will  get  some 
idea  of  the  situation." 

The  village  is  on  the  side  of  the  smaller  bowl,  with  a 
beautiful  lake  at  its  base,  which  is  half  a  mile  from  the 
village  on  the  east.  We  have  a  very  fine  view  of  the 
lake  with  the  woodlands  surrounding  it  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year ;  but  in  autumn  the  scenery  is  magnificent, 
abounding  in  many  colors,  with  the  passing  clouds 
throwing  their  shadows  upon  them.  The  lake  derived 
its  name  from  a  party  of  hunters,  who,  in  the  olden  time, 
met  on  its  shores  every  Sunday.  Hence  the  Sabbath- 
day  Lake. 

Our  government  is  a  theocracy.  We  find  a  mother  as 
well  as  a  father  in  God,  and  are  held  together  by  bonds 
of  pure  love.  Nothing  else  could  do  it.  The  life  that 
Jesus  lived  is  our  example,  and  our  order  is  founded 
upon  the  principles  of  that  church  that  was  organized  at 
Jerusalem  by  his  disciples.  We  have  given  up  the  pri- 
vate family  life,  and  found  in  its  place  the  great  brother- 
hood and  sisterhood  which  Jesus  promised  to  those  who 
would  become  his  followers.  All  are  loved  and  cared 
for.  The  rich  and  exalted  come  down  and  the  poor  are 
raised  up,  bringing  all  upon  a  Christian  level. 

Two  miles  north  of  us  are  the  famous  Poland  Mineral 
Springs,  with  two  large  hotels  accommodating  many 
invalids,  who  come  for  the  benefits  derived  from  drink- 
ing the  water,  and  thousands  of  others  who  come  for  the 
pleasure   of    this    pleasant    resort   during   the    summer 


OUR    HOME    AT   SARRATIIDAY    LAKE.  21 

months.  The  hotels  are  first-class  in  every  respect. 
Just  one  mile  south  are  the  Centennial  Springs.  We 
are  surrounded  by  healing  waters. 

Thus  you  see  that  as  was  prophesied  in  days  of  old, 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  has  arisen  upon  us  with  heal- 
ing in  his  wings,  and  there  is  a  balm  in  Gilead  by  which 
the  wounds  of  both  body  and  soul  can  be  healed.  There 
is  that  Platonic  love  among  us,  which  goes  out  to  the 
suffering  sons  and  daughters  of  men. 

Have  you  a  desire  to  know  more  of  this  peculiar  peo- 
ple?    "Ask  and  ye  shall  receive." 


LETTER  11. 

THE  DUALITY  OF  GOD— THE  CHRIST  SPIRIT, 

February,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger : — 

In  the  article  that  I  recently  contributed  to  your  paper, 
I  alluded  to  a  subject  which  I  wish  to  say  more  upon. 

It  may  be  that  we,  in  looking  abroad,  see  as  much  in 
the  creeds  of  those  outside  which  seems  strange  and 
unaccountable  to  us,  as  the  casual  observer  finds  among 
us  that  is  hard  for  him  to  understand. 

I  would  "walk  with  bare,  hushed  feet  the  ground" 
which  I  am  about  to  enter.  With  due  respect  for  the 
sincere  belief  of  others,  I  must  say  that  it  seems  strange 
to  us  that  after  all  these  years  of  increasing  light,  there 
should  be  any  blind  to  the  fact  that  we  have  a  mother  as 
truly  as  we  have  a  father  in  God.  "His  eternal  power 
and  God-head"  are  understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  and  all  animal  and  vegetable  life  was  created  male 
and  female.  We  have  the  authority  of  Moses  that  God 
said,  "Let  us  make  man  in  our  image."  Then  they  cre- 
ated a  man  and  a  woman.  Is  not  this  conclusive  evi- 
dence of  the  duality  of  God  ? 


THE   CHRIST   si'n<iT.  23 

How  did  Jesus  become  the  Christ?  Some  who  read 
this  will  say  he  was  born  the  Christ,  but  we  can  not  view 
it  in  that  light.  Nearly  nineteen  hundred  years  ago  a 
man  lived  a  very  pure  life  and  went  about  doing  good, 
until  the  beautiful  Spirit  of  Christ  descended  and  abode 
upon  him.  He  was  not  the  first  man  that  received  the 
anointing  power  of  Christ,  neither  was  he  the  last. 
About  four  hundred  years  before  Jesus  was  born,  Soc- 
rates, by  his  self-denying  life,  received  in  a  measure,  the 
baptism  of  the  Christ  Spirit.  Also  Plato ;  so  much  so, 
that  we  can  not  think  it  sacrilegious  to  call  him  Plato  the 
Christ. 

These  great  men  of  old  may  have  made  mistakes ;  but 
the  principles  which  they  carried  out  in  their  lives,  and 
taught  to  others,  did  not  so  far  diverge  from  those  after- 
wards promulgated  by  Jesus,  as  the  lives  of  some  who 
call  themselves  Christians  in  our  day.  Can  a  follower  of 
Jesus  the  Christ  go  to  war  with  his  fellow-men  ? 

I  claim  that  there  are  those  now  living  in  our  order, 
those  "with  whom  my  feet  have  trod  the  quiet  aisles  of 
prayer,"  who  by  a  close  walk  with  God  have  attained  the 
Christ  Spirit,  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  many  who  are 
not  of  this  fold, 

A  few  lines  in  regard  to  our  situation  here  may  be 
acceptable.  One  mile  from  our  home,  and  just  half-way 
between  us  and  the  Poland  Mineral  Springs,  on  the 
north,  is  another  Shaker  village  very  beautifully  situated 
on  the  first  and  highest  of  the  Rang  Hills. 


24  THE    ALETHEIA. 

There  are  three  hills  that  range  side  by  side  toward 
the  north,  each  with  a  small  lake  on  the  west.  The 
fathers  and  mothers  of  old  gave  them  the  name  of  the 
Rang  Hills  and  the  Rang  Ponds,  calling  the  name  Rang 
instead  of  Range. 

Poland  Mineral  Springs  are  on  the  middle  Rang  Hill. 
From  the  tower  of  the  Poland  Spring  House,  can  be 
seen,  with  all  the  surrounding  country,  the  Rang  Hill  on 
the  north,  the  Rang  Hill  on  the  south,  with  the  Shaker 
village  thereon,  and  the  three  lakes  to  the  west.  In  a 
clear  day  the  White  Mountains  towards  the  northwest, 
and  the  cities  of  Lewiston  and  Auburn  to  the  northeast 
are  in  plain  view,  and  far  to  the  southeast  the  ocean, 
until  it  is  lost  in  the  azure  sky. 

On  pleasant  afternoons  in  summer,  we  often  enjoy 
delightful  rides  over  these  hills.  At  the  hotels  we  have 
always  been  treated  with  great  politeness.  Hiram 
Ricker  &  Sons,  proprietors  of  the  two  Poland  Spring 
Houses,  have  ever  shown  the  greatest  kindness  to  us,  as 
a  people,  for  which  they  have  our  sincere  thanks. 


LETTER  III. 

QUESTION  ANSWERED  BY  QUESTION— MOTHER 
ANN  LEE. 

March,  188:3. 
£ditors  of  the  Messenger  : — 

Between  our  village  and  New  Gloucester  Upper  Cor- 
ner on  the  east,  is  a  forest  of  tall,  straight  pine  trees,  the 
beautiful  evergreens  of  our  northern  land.  How  often, 
in  riding  by  them  and  walking  in  their  shade,  we  have 
felt  the  force  of  that  marvelous  power  that  is  able  to 
change  the  scenery  around  us  into  poetry.  It  is  the 
eyes  that  see,  and  the  ears  that  hear  with  acuteness, 
that  can  find  "tongues  in  trees,  sermons  in  stones,  books 
in  the  running  brooks  and  good  in  everything"  by  which 
we  are  surrounded. 

From  the  fertile  soil  of  our  domain,  spring  spontane- 
ously the  rock  and  white  maple.  The  present  season  is 
so  backward,  and  the  snows  are  lying  so  deeply,  that  we 
have  not  yet  commenced  to  rob  them  of  their  nectar.  A 
few  days  more  and  they  must  yield  to  the  sovereignty 
of  man.  Beautiful  trees,  standing  in  your  pride  and 
strength,  you  find  in  man  your  lord  and  master! 


26  THE    ALETHEIA. 

I  propose  to  answer  a  question  universally  asked  in 
regard  to  our  community.  It  is  a  fact  well  known  that 
we  live  the  virgin  life;  and  the  question  is:  "What 
would  become  of  the  world  if  all  should  be  Shakers?"  I 
have  heard  it  said  that  it  is  characteristic  of  the  Yan- 
kees, that  they  answer  one  question  by  asking  another ; 
so  I  will  answer  this  question  by  asking  a  number. 
What  would  become  of  the  world  if  all  should  go  to 
war  and  slay  their  fellow-men  ?  What  would  become  of 
the  world  if  all  that  grows  from  the  ground  should  be 
kept  for  seed  to  reproduce  its  like,  and  no  portion  of  it 
saved  for  the  higher  use  of  sustaining  life  ?  What  would 
become  of  the  world  if  that  great  day  of  judgment  should 
come  "in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,"  according  to  the 
literal  sense  in  which  it  is  understood  by  many  from  a 
misinterpretation  of  the  Scriptures  ? 

It  has  been  said  that  war  and  pestilence  are  necessary 
evils  to  check  an  over-abundant  population.  If  this  is 
so,  it  would  be  well  if  the  Shakers  were  more  numerous, 
that  the  check  might  come  in  a  humane  way,  and  those 
evils  become  exterminated. 

All  will  admit  that  Jesus  lived  the  highest  life  that 
could  be  lived  by  man ;  and  he  expressly  declares : 
"All  cannot  receive  this  saying  save  they  to  whom  it 
is  given."  "  He  that  is  able  to  receive  it  let  him  receive 
it."  He  afterwards  said  to  those  who  had  received  the 
saying:  "Ye  are  the  light  of  the  world;"  and  again, 
"Ye  are  not  of  the  world,"  for  to  them  had  already  come 


MOTHER    ANX    LEE.  2'J 

the  end  of  the  world,  the  Day  of  Judoment.  Let  those 
who  cannot  receive  the  saying  become  perfect  in  their 
generations.  In  so  doing  they  will  receive  all  the  good 
that  is  to  be  found  in  the  marriage  relation. 

Ann  Lee  was  the  founder  of  the  Shaker  community. 
She  came  to  America  from  Manchester,  England,  in  the 
year  seventeen  hundred  seventy-four,  accomplished  her 
great  work  and  died  ten  years  from  that  time,  at  the  age 
of  forty-eight. 

She  possessed  a  powerful  magnetism  by  which  she 
seemed  to  control,  easily,  all  within  the  sound  of  her  voice. 
Thousands  believed  her  words,  and  gave  themselves,  to- 
gether with  all  their  worldly  goods,  to  support  her  cause. 
Bringing  their  property  together,  they  organized  these 
communities,  which  remain  and  flourish  to  this  day. 

We  claim  that  she  was  inspired  and  directed  by  a 
power  beyond  that  law  of  which  Ingersoll  speaks  and 
writes,  that  she  was  the  developing  medium  of  mighty 
principles,  eternal  as  the  hills,  that  must  yet  undermine 
and  destroy  all  false  creeds.  Already  we  see  the  writing 
upon  the  wall,  and  no  Daniel  is  needed  for  its  interpreta- 
tion. The  light  of  the  present  day  is  revealing  to  many 
those  same  principles,  so  clearly  seen  and  set  forth  by 
our  Mother,  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago. 

One  of  these  principles  is,  eternal  progression  in  the 
life  beyond.  The  travel  of  the  soul  from  one  degree  of 
grace  and  glory  to  another  throughout  the  endless  ages 
of  eternity. 


28  THE    ALETHEIA. 

She  also  received  and  transmitted  to  her  followers 
that  power  which  has  held  these  communities  together 
through  the  years  that  have  passed,  while  those  founded 
on  other  theories  have  failed. 

We  would  have  all  who  advocate  the  rights  of  women 
understand  that  our  Mother  gave  unto  her  daughters, 
equal  rights  with  their  brothers  in  all  the  offices  estab- 
lished for  the  government  of  the  Shaker  Order. 

That  Scripture  is  being  fulfilled  before  our  eyes : 
"The  wolf  also  shall  dwell  with  the  lamb,"  etc.  "And 
they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  ploughshares,  and  their 
spears  into  pruning-hooks,"  and  they  shall  learn  war  no 
more. 


HESTER  ANN   ADA  MS. 
Partner ly  of  the  Maine  Ministry. 

What  shall  I  render  to  thee, 

My  Father? 
What  shall  I  bring  as  a 
Tribute  of  love  to  thee, 

My  Mother? 
A  humble  heart,  a  contrite  spirit, 
A  virgin  life,  I  bring'unto  thee. 


LETTER  IV. 


IV.  D.  HOWELLS— LAFAYETTE— MOTHER  ANN'S 
VOYAGE  TO  AMERICA. 

May,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger : — 

Having  been  indulged  with  space  in  your  columns  a 
number  of  times,  I  am  encouraged  to  write  again. 
What  most  impels  me  is  the  desire  that  our  principles 
and  standing  may  become  better  known  to  those  outside. 
We  would  speak  to  the  people  and  earnestly  solicit  a 
hearing;  that  those  so  inclined  may  investigate  what  has 
hitherto  been  so  little  understood. 

But  few  in  comparison  know  of  that  germ  which 
started  into  growth  contemporary  with  the  glorious 
Republic  itself,  that  is  yet  to  become  a  great  tree, 
giving  shelter  to  many  weary  souls,  and  healing  to  the 
nations. 

We  have  been  brought  before  the  public  in  "The 
Undiscovered  Country,"  by  W.  D.  Howells.  To  my 
understanding  he  leaves  the  country  undiscovered,  or 
the  world  in  doubt  of  its  existence.  The  work  shows 
that  the  Shakers  felt  sure  of  a  future  life  of  happiness, 


30  THE    ALETHEIA. 

but  also  a  chance  that  they  were  mistaken.  Of  the  child 
that  had  died,  the  outside  man  said:  "If  it  knows  any- 
thing." But  the  Shaker  said:  "We  are  sure  that  it 
knows."  Friend  Howells  is  very  fair  and  correct  in  what 
he  says  about  the  angel  life ;  but  hardly  gives  credit  to 
our  people  for  the  intelligence  which  belongs  to  them. 
In  our  ranks  are  found  men  with  a  collegiate  education, 
and  women  learned  and  cultured. 

Ann  Lee,  our  Mother,  had  visions  of  Divine  Beings 
from  her  childhood.  She  walked  with  God,  revealed  to 
her  by  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect:  "I  saw  two 
bright  angels  of  God  standing  by  the  mast"  were  her 
words  to  the  captain  when  the  water  was  rushing  into 
the  ship,  "through  whom  I  received  this  promise: 
There  shall  not  a  hair  of  our  heads  perish.  We  shall  all 
arrive  safely  in  America."  She  then  assisted  with  her 
own  hands  at  the  pumps.  Shortly  after  this  a  large 
wave  struck  the  ship  with  great  violence,  and  the  loose 
plank  was  instantly  closed  in  its  place. 

This  was  viewed  by  all  on  board  as  a  miraculous  inter- 
position of  Divine  Providence  in  their  favor,  and  Mother 
Ann  and  her  eight  followers  were  treated  with  great 
respect  and  kindness  during  the  remainder  of  the  voy- 
age. The  captain  was  ever  afterwards  free  to  declare, 
that  had  it  not  been  for  these  people,  he  would  have 
been  sunk  in  the  sea  and  never  reached  America.  They 
landed  in  New  York  the  sixth  day  of  August,  1774. 

Lafayette,  while  he  was  in  this  country  in   the  time  of 


.  LAFA\ETrE.  3  I 

the  Revolutionary  War,  once  visited  Mother  Ann  and 
conversed  with  her.  and  witnessed  the  worship  of  her 
people,  saw  them  mo\ed  b)-  an  occult  power.  He  drew 
near  to  Abijah  Wooster.  a  very  gifted  )ouno-  man,  and 
tried  to  take  hold  of  his  hand.  Abijah  said  to  him,  "  Do 
you  love  this  power?"  Lafayette  made  answer,  "It  is 
something  that  seems  greatly  to  be  desired." 

These  people  held  daily  converse  with  their  friends  in 
spirit  life  many  years  before  the  spiritual  manifestations 
commenced  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.  It  seemed  as  though 
bright  beings  from  the  throne  of  Eternal  Majesty  came 
down  and  ministered  to  them  heavenly  gifts ;  and  the 
promised  Millennium  had  commenced. 

Thus  the  evidence  is  brought  to  our  senses  that  we 
exist  after  death  and  that  there  is  a  God,  the  Great  First 
Cause  and  Creator  of  all  things.  Not  because  the  Bible 
tells  us  so,  but  from  present  revelations. 

All  things  invented,  made  or  created,  must  be  origi- 
nated by  minds  superior  to  the  things  thus  brought  into 
existence,  so  this  great  universe  must  have  been  formed 
by  a  Being  far  superior  to  itself.  Is  not  this  "  Proof  Pal- 
pable of  Immortality  "  ? 

"  I  am,  O  God,  and  surely  Thou  must  be, 
■  Thy  light,  Thy  love,  in  their  bright  plenitude 
Filled  me  with  an  immortal  soul,  to  spring 
Over  the  abyss  of  death,  and  bade  it  wear 
The  garments  of  eternal  day,  and  wing 
Its  heavenly  flight  beyond  this  little  sphere 
Even  to  its  source ,  to  Thee  its  Author  there  !  ' ' 


32  THE    ALETHEIA. 

This  is  the  faith  which  we  have  received  and  we  are 
fettered  by  no  creed,  but  as  Friend  Howells  says,  hve 
the  angel,  virgin  Hfe,  the  hfe  that  Jesus  lived.  Or  we 
are  ever  striving  to  come  as  near  to  that  as  possible. 

A  large  dwelling-house  is  being  built  in  our  village,  so 
business  is  unusually  lively.  To-day  the  granite  blocks 
are  moving  fast  into  place,  forming  the  basement;  the 
three  stories  above  to  be  of  brick.  The  granite  is 
taken  from  a  quarry  on  our  farm  about  a  mile  from  the 
village. 

These  are  fine  May  days ;  the  farmers  are  putting  the 
seed  into  the  ground,  the  garden  is  planted  and  the 
roots  set  out,  but  we  have  yet  to  see  the  first  dandelion 
blossom  and  buttercup  of  the  Spring;  trailing  arbutus 
flowers  are  brought  in  and  there  are  none  more  lovely 
or  sweet,  giving  good  cheer  to  all.  The  birds  are  busily 
repairing  their  little  dwellings  in  the  trees.  To  walk  out 
into  the  beautiful  day  and  drink  in  the  blessings  around 
us  is  joy  unspeakable. 


ELDER  JOHN  WHITELY. 

Bishdf  of  the  Societies  in  Massachusetts  in  which  was  laid  the  plot  of  the 

■■  Undiscovered  Country,^''  by  W.  D.  Howells. 

"  I  have  feet,  with  God  they  're  walking, 
For  with  gospel  peace  they  're  shod; 
Most  familiarly  I  'm  talking 

As  I  take  my  walk  with  God. 

"  I  have  ears  to  hear  the  story 

Men  and  angels  love  to  tell  ; 
Eyes  to  see  the  rising  glory 

Which  shall  Zion's  triumphs  swell.'' 


LETTER  V. 

CONSTELLATIONS— ARISTOTLE—ETERNAL  PUNISH- 
MENT—THE  GOOD  PREVAILING. 

June,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger : — 

June  is  here  in  all  her  loveliness,  the  most  beautiful 
season  of  the  year. 

On  either  side  of  the  street  which  runs  north  and 
south,  are  to  be  seen  lilac  bushes  in  full  bloom,  both 
white  and  colored.  In  the  row  of  shade  trees  extending 
the  length  of  the  village  are  the  horse-chestnut,  now  in 
the  height  of  their  beauty.  The  large  white  trumpet- 
shaped  blossoms  pointing  upward  through  the  deep 
green  foliage  of  the  trees,  are  a  sight  one  is  never  tired 
of  beholding.  On  the  top  of  the  hill  at  the  west  is  an 
orchard  of  young  apple  trees,  now  in  full  bloom.  Vine- 
yards, gardens,  orchards,  and  cultivated  fields  all  around 
us  in  whatever  direction  we  turn  our  eyes,  and  in  our 
hearts  that  peace  which  passeth  understanding.  Surely 
the  Utopia  of  Sir  Thomas  More  is  outdone. 

When  nigfht  hath  drawn  her  sable  curtains  over  our 
heads,  we  look  away  into  the  far  heavens,  and  behold 


34  THE    ALETHEIA. 

mystery  upon  mystery.  There  are  now  plainly  to  be 
seen  six  stars  of  the  first  magnitude  looking  down  upon 
us.  Spica  in  the  constellation  Virgo,  toward  the  south- 
west; Altair  in  Aquila,  to  the  east;  Arcturus,  Deneb, 
Antares  and  Vega,  all  glowing  with  light  from  an  inex- 
haustible fountain.  Let  us  go  to  them,  in  imagination, 
and  from  them,  behold  the  stars  that  will  look  down 
upon  us,  as  far  from  them  as  they  are  from  our  little 
Earth.  Let  us  go  to  the  farthest  star  in  the  Nebula  of 
Orion,  and  we  shall  come  to  no  end,  neither  can  we 
comprehend  any  beginning. 

As  it  is  in  regard  to  space,  so  is  it  also  in  regard  to 
time.  That  man  never  lived  who  could  search  out  the 
existence  of  the  Almighty,  the  beginning  or  the  end  of 
time.  Aristotle  said:  "It  is  evident  there  is  neither 
space,  nor  time,  nor  vacuum  beyond  the  residence  of  the 
gods  in  the  highest  heavens."  And  this  to  us  is  unfath- 
omable.* 

We  have  before  our  eyes,  the  Immensity  of  Space, 
without  beginning  or  end,  and  we  also  know  of  the  great 
aeon  of  God,  there  is  neither  beginning  nor  ending.  It 
is  enough  for  us  to  have  the  evidence  that  we  shall  exist, 
individual  beings,  when  that  Angel,  with  one  foot  upon 
the  sea,  and  the  other  upon  the  land,  declares  :  "There 
shall    be    time    no    longer."     And    this    will  be  but  the 


*  Since  the  date  of  the  publication  of  this  letter  scientific  investiga- 
tions have  made  known  the  elements  of  ether  and  the  wonderful  power 
of  the  X-ray. 


ETERNAL    PUNISHMENT.  35 

beginning,  the  mystery  of  God  will  be  finished,  because 
we  shall  but  just  then  begin  to  comprehend  the  deep 
things  of  the  Almighty. 

It  is  a  strange  idea  that  any  should  believe  for  one 
moment  that  a  God,  with  the  attributes  of  love  and  jus- 
tice in  His  organization,  could  create  an  immortal  being, 
and  then  punish  him  eternally  with  dreadful  sufferings 
for  a  few  failures  at  the  commencement  of  his  existence. 
Jesus  represented  this  God  as  a  father,  tender  and  merci- 
ful to  His  children,  and  we  can  see  nothing  in  His  teach- 
ings to  justify  any  such  belief. 

Every  sin  has  its  penalty,  and  each  individual  must 
suffer  according  to  the  measure  of  his  transgressions, 
either  in  this  life  or  the  next.  The  punishment  is  but 
for  reformation,  and  when  reformation  is  complete,  the 
soul  is  restored  to  happiness  and  peace. 

In  looking  over  the  world,  I  hardly  think  we  could 
find  a  soul  without  one  spark  of  goodness,  and  all  good- 
ness is  of  God.  The  germs  of  goodness  will  develop 
and  grow,  and  the  tares  will  finally  be  destroyed,  and 
cast  into  the  fire  of  truth. 

How  many  great  improvements  have  been  made  within 
the  present  century,  and  how  many  evils  have  been 
driven  from  the  land!  The  scourge  of  slavery  might  be 
called  the  greatest,  which  cost  so  many  precious  lives 
and  is  so  well  remembered  by  those  of  us  who  have 
arrived  at  the  meridian  of  life.  Above  all  the  turmoil 
and  the  confusion  extant,  we  behold  the  good  prevailing. 


36  THE    ALETHEIA. 

and  the  evil  being  constantly  undermined,  the  signs  of 
the  times  gradually  tending  to  the  perfect  day,  the  Jubi- 
lee, the  Millennium. 

"  A  Father's  hand,  a  Mother's  care, 
Is  ruling  o'er  the  billows  there." 

Scattered  abroad  over  this  fair  land  are  the  pleasant 
community  homes  of  the  Shakers,  of  whom  you  yet 
know  but  little.  They  are  not  homes  of  servitude  and 
sorrow,  but  they  are  homes  of  liberty,  cheerfulness  and 
peace,  where  brothers  and  sisters  enjoy  each  other's 
society  in  purity  and  refinement,  realizing  aH  the  bless- 
ings that  accrue  from  lives  strictly  disciplined  in  the 
school  of  Christ.  "  Come  and  see,"  for  we  want  you  to 
know. 


JOHN    H.  \"\NCK. 

Formerly  Bishop  of  the  Societies  in  Maine. 

1  imagine  that  many  of  earth's  heroes  have  had  to  go  to  school  a  long  time  in  that 
other  world  to  learn  even  the  elementary  lessons  of  how  to  live  properly. 

J.  n.  V. 
"  Peace,  peace,  ye  wild  winds 
That  shake  the  dark  forest, 
Be  still  ye  fierce  tempests 
That  rock  the  great  sea. 
^'our  strength  is  as  weakness. 
Compared  with  the  power 
Of  those,  who  from  bondage 
Have  set  themselves  free.'" 


LETTER  VI. 


THE   THREE    CARDINAL  PRINCIPLES— CONFESSION- 
CELIBACY— COMMUNITY  OF  INTERESTS. 

July,  188.1 
Editors  of  the  Messenger : — 

Shall  I  write  you  a  Sunday  letter?  Here  in  the  still- 
ness of  the  afternoon,  sitting  by  my  writing  table,  I  recall 
the  events  of  the  day.  At  ten  o'clock  we  went  to  church, 
where  many  people  had  assembled  to  witness  the  wor- 
ship of  the  Shakers.  It  seems  there  were  various  causes 
that  drew  them.  Some  came  merely  for  the  recreation 
of  a  Sunday  ride,  some  for  the  amusement  of  seeing  a 
strange  people,  so  different  from  "  the  rest  of  mankind," 
others  from  a  sincere  desire  to  find  out  our  religious 
belief.     This  was  held  forth  to  them  very  plainly. 

Would  your  readers  like  to  know  what  was  told  the 
people  in  our  meeting  to-day  ?  Then  they  will  know 
what  they  will  have  to  do  to  become  Christians.  (Ex- 
cuse me,  I  look  upon  words  Christians  and  Shakers  as 
synonymous.) 

There  are  three  principles  unchangeable,  that  must  be 


38  THE    ALETHEIA. 

met  and  digested  at  the  beginning  and  strictly  adhered 
to  in  after  Hfe  if  we  would  be  Shakers. 

The  questions  of  location,  dress,  diet,  etc.,  are  of 
minor  importance,  still  we  aim  at  health  and  uniformity. 

When  you  see  how  straight  these  three  principles,  of 
which  I  am  about  to  tell  you,  draw  the  line  for  our  feet 
to  walk  by,  you  may  feel  that  it  is  a  life  hard  to  be  at- 
tained, that,  "This  an  hard  saying;    who  can  hear  it?" 

Can  there  be  any  greater  crosses  required  under  the 
Shaker  Covenant  than  were  required  by  that  Constitu- 
tion which  Lycurgus  formed  for  the  Spartans,  by  which 
they  rose  to  be  such  a  brave  people  ?  Could  our  laws 
bind  us  any  more  closely  to  a  self-denying  life  than  that 
ideal  government  of  Plato,  which  was  never  fully  put 
into  practice  ? 

The  way  is  straight  and  narrow,  and  there  are  few  that 
find  it.  I  tell  you  truly,  I  would  rather  be  one  of  the 
few  than  of  the  many.  Buddha,  long  before  Jesus, 
pointed  out  "  The  Path''  straight  and  narrow,  devoid  of 
animal  passions.  His  teachings  were,  in  many  ways, 
similar  to  those  of  Jesus.  "  He  that  is  compassionate 
and  observes  the  law  is  my  disciple,"  said  Buddha.  "  I 
am  not  come  to  destroy  the  law,  but  to  fulfill,"  said  Jesus. 

In  defense  of  the  Shaker  Covenant,  the  Hon.  John 
Brethrett  of  Kentucky  in  his  charge  to  a  jury  uses  these 
words:  "And  is  it  a  matter  of  objection  against  any 
man,  that  his  motives  are  so  pure  and  disinterested  that 
he    desires    to  be  released  from  earthly  thralldom,  that 


SHAKER    MEE'JING. 


CONFESSION.  39 

he  may  fix  his  thoughts  and  affections  on  his  God  ? 
And  after  he  has  signed  the  Covenant  he  is  released 
from  earthly  care. 

"Much  has  been  said  against  the  Shaker  Covenant. 
But,  Sir,  I  repeat  it,  that  individual  who  is  prepared  to 
sign  the  Church  Covenant,  stands  in  an  enviable  situa- 
tion ;  who,  devoted  to  God,  is  prepared  to  say  of  his 
property,  '  Here  it  is,  little  or  much,  take  it  and  leave 
me  unmolested  to  commune  with  my  God.  Indeed  I 
dedicate  myself  to  what?  Not  a  fanatical  tenet;  O  no, 
to  a  subject  far  beyond,  to  the  worship  of  Almighty  God, 
the  great  Creator  and  Governor  of  the  Universe.  Under 
the  influence  of  His  love,  I  give  my  all;  only  let  me 
worship  according  to  my  faith,  and  in  a  manner  I  believe 
acceptable  to  my  God.' 

"Now  what  is  there  objectionable  in  all  this?  I  say 
again,  the  world  can  not  produce  a  parallel  to  the  situa- 
tion such  a  man  exhibits.  Resigned  to  the  will  of 
Heaven,  free  from  all  feelings  of  earthly  desires,  and 
pursuing  quietly  the  peaceful  tenor  of  his  way." 

But  you  desire  to  know  what  these  three  principles 
are.     I  will  tell  you. 

First — Confession.  Every  sin,  secret  or  otherwise, 
must  be  confessed,  one  by  one  in  the  presence  of  a  wit- 
ness, whom  we  consider  has  attained  a  greater  degree  of 
the  Spirit  of  Christ  than  ourselves.  Now  we  have 
entered  ''The  Path''  hereafter  there  must  be  no  more 
darkness  in  us.     Our  walk  must  be  in  the  light. 


40  THE    ALETHEIA. 

Second — The  Virgin  Life.  No  longer  to  be  con- 
trolled by  animal  passions.  "Ye  are  harvested."  "All 
can  not  receive  this  saying."  But  it  must  be  received 
and  lived  out  by  the  Shaker,  the  Christian. 

Third — Community  of  Interests.  The  worldly  goods 
which  we  possessed  are  no  longer  our  own.  We  settle 
with  our  heirs,  and  pay  all  our  debts,  then,  if  there  is  any- 
thing left,  we  lay  it  "at  the  apostles'  feet,"  for  every  man 
as  he  has  need.  This  sacrifice  is  not  accepted  until  the 
person  has  had  time  for  due  consideration.  If  after  this, 
he  withdraws  from  fellowship,  the  society  is  not  obliged 
to  restore  to  him  what  he  thus  freely  gave;  but  there 
is  generally  a  settlement  made,  mutually  satisfactory. 

From  the  doctrines  of  the  confession  of  sin  we  find 
that  the  house  built  upon  the  sands  of  atonement  of 
Christ  must  fall.  Each  must  atone  for  himself,  bringing 
his  own  deeds  to  judgment.  From  our  dual  God — 
Father  and  Mother — we  find  that  the  house  built  upon 
the  sands  of  the  Trinity  must  fall.  There  has  been 
nothing  created  in  the  likeness  of  any  such  prototype  as 
three  male  beings  in  one.  Because  we  know  that  God 
is  good,  we  find  that  the  house  built  upon  the  sands  of 
eternal  punishment  must  fall.  The  door  is  open 
through  the  endless  ages,  for  repentance  and  restoration. 

These  are  truths  according  to  the  light  that  we  have 
received,  and  we  would  not  tear  down  and  destroy  the 
hopes  of  any,  if  we  did  not  have  something  better,  as  we 
believe,  to  take  their  places. 


THE    GOOD    PREVAILING.  4 1 

"  Let,  then,  O  God  !  thy  servants  dare 
Thy  truth  in  all  its  power  to  tell, 
Unmask  the  priestly  thieves,  and  tear 
The  Bible  from  the  grasp  of  hell  !  " 

This  is  my  Sunday  letter,  written  in  the  silence  of  the 
afternoon.  I  submit  it  to  you,  feeling  that  it  is  law-ful  to 
do  good  on  the  Sabbath  day. 

The; flowers  are  blooming,  the  birds  are  singing,  and 
all  is  delightful.  This  rest  was  provided  for  us  by  a  lov- 
ing Father  and  a  tender  Mother. 


LETTER  VII. 


THE  ATONEMENT— THE  GOD  OF  MOSES— THE  GOD 

OF  JESUS. 

August,  1883. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger : — 

The  days  of  the  last  month  of  summer  are  fast  slip- 
ping away.  The  browning  fields  and  drooping  limbs  of 
the  fruit-laden  trees  remind  us  that  the  harvest  is  near. 
Even  now  the  birds  are  beginning  to  sing  of  their  south- 
ward journey. 

The  large  garden  to  the  west  of  our  village  is  produc- 
ing more  than  its  usual  amount  of  seeds,  fruits  and  vege- 
tables. Potatoes  are  very  nice,  an  abundant  crop  com- 
ing in,  owing  to  the  long  war  with  their  fell  destroyers, 
the  little  emigrants  in  striped  cloaks,  which  ended  seem- 
ingly by  their  annihilation. 

All  the  people  are  busily  engaged  in  their  various 
occupations.  Thus  by  the  sweat  of  the  brow  are  we 
earning  the  bread  that  is  to  sustain  us  through  the  com- 
ing winter. 

"The  gods  help  those  who  help  themselves,"  and  even 
as  the  hand  of  help  came  to  John  Bunyan's  pilgrim  when 


THE    ATONEMENT.  43 

he  was  in  trouble,  so  are  blessings  being  constantly 
strewn  in  our  pathway,  surrounded  as  we  are  at  all  times 
by  the  good,  the  pure,  and  the  beautiful. 

None  can  enjoy  the  beautiful,  even  in  material  things, 
like  the  virgin  spirit;  none  can  see  God  but  the  pure  in 
heart,  and  in  these  lovely  days  which  are  so  sweetly 
passing  by,  we 

"  Salute  you  ;  earth  and  air  and  sea  and  sky, 
And  the  imperial  sun  that  scatters  down 
His  sovereign  splendors  upon  grove  and  town  !  " 

In  my  last  letter  to  you  I  spoke  of  the  house  founded 
upon  the  sands  of  the  atonement  of  Christ,  maintaining 
that,  from  the  light  in  which  we  view  the  subject,  it  must 
fall.  How  can  it  be  otherwise  if  it  is  a  false  theory?  If 
it  is  the  truth,  God  is  unjust. 

A  God  angry  with  a  world  of  people  that  he  himself 
had  created,  not  for  any  sins  of  their  own,  but  because 
their  first  father  and  mother  committed  one  sin,  and  he 
could  never  become  reconciled  to  any  of  them  unless 
another  God  should  be  willing  to  be  born  into  the  world, 
grow  to  manhood  and  suffer  death  at  the  hands  of  these 
same  people !  Take  into  consideration  also  that  this 
angry  God  had  before  made  a  special  law  for  them, 
"Thou  shalt  not  kill."  How  could  a  father  coolly  pro- 
pose for  his  children  to  break  the  laws  that  he  had  given 
them,  and  then  punish  them  eternally  for  doing  so  ? 

We  do  not  believe  that  Jesus  taught  any  such  doctrine, 
and  we  also  know^  that  the  God  of  Love  that  he  repre- 


44  THE    ALETHEIA. 

sented  was  a  being  very  different  from  the  God  revealed 
to  the  people  by  Moses.  The  life  that  Jesus  lived  was 
far  in  advance  of  that  degree  of  civilization  that  his 
brethren,  the  Jews,  had  attained,  and  they  cruelly  put 
him  to  death,  he  in  his  dying  moments  declaring,  "They 
know  not  what  they  do." 

He  said  to  his  followers,  "  I  am  the  Resurrection  and 
the  Life,"  showing  plainly  that  if  we  would  become  one 
with  him,  we  must  follow  his  example  in  all  things,  liv- 
ing the  life  that  he  lived. 

He  looked  into  the  future  and  saw  that  light  and 
knowledge  would  increase,  and  that  his  followers  would 
do  even  greater  works  than  he  had  done. 

There  are  many  who  believe  that  Jesus  will  some  day 

come  in  the  literal  clouds,  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead 

will  arise  from  their  graves.     That  day  will  never  dawn. 

"  He  Cometh  not  a  king  to  reign, 
The  world's  long  hope  is  dim  ; 
The  weary  centuries  watch  in  vain 
The  clouds  of  heaven  for  him." 

But  the  spirit  of  Christ  is  always  near,  if  we  will  but 

believe  and  obey.     Let  us,  therefore,  open  our  hearts  to 

receive  that  love  that  will  save  us  from  committing  sin, 

the  lovely  Christ  Spirit,  sent    to    us    by  our    Heavenly 

Father  and  Mother — God. 

"  At  morn  I  prayed,  I  fain  would  see 
How  Three  are  One  and  One  is  Three  ; 
Read  the  dark  riddle  unto  me." 


ELDRESS  DOKOTHV  ANN  DUKGIN. 

East  Canterbury.  N.  H. 

To  the  Surest  and  the  Purest  I  would  give  my  hfe  away. 


LETTER  VIII. 


NEW  CENTER  DWELLING— SCHOOL— NATHAN  MER- 
^RILL   AND    THE   FOUNDERS    OF   THE    SOCIETY- 
ELDER  OTIS  SA  WVER. 

November,  1883. 
Editoi^s  of  the  Messenger' : — 

Since  writing  you  last  a  number  of  months  have  rolled 
their  course.  Business  has  been  very  active  in  our  com- 
munity, but  we  are  now  thinking  of  settling  down  to  pass 
the  winter  in  our  cosy  apartments.  Thanksgiving  is  at 
hand.  The  sun  is  nearing  its  southern  terminus,  bring- 
ing Christmas  with  all  its  pleasant  associations. 

The  new  house,  which  was  not  to  be  seen  one  year  ago 
at  this  time,  stands  as  a  beautiful  monument  in  our  vil- 
lage. The  garden-house,  where  the  seeds  are  dried  and 
the  garden  tools  stored,  has  been  repaired  the  past  sum- 
mer. It  looms  up  like  a  splendid  cottage  on  the  western 
hill.  The  workmen  have  left,  from  the  master-builders 
down  to  the  hod-carriers,  excepting  two  carpenters. 

The  long  term  of  school  has  commenced,  to  continue 
until  March.  Each  forenoon  and  afternoon,  at  the  regu- 
lar hours,  we  hear  the  little  bell,  calling  the  youth  and 


46  THE    ALETHEIA. 

children  together  in  the  school-house,  which  is  nicely 
fitted  up,  north  of  the  village,  west  side  of  the  street. 
Mulberry  trees  are  set  around  the  building,  which  will  in 
future  days  become  a  beautiful  grove. 

In  passing  the  school-house  door,  we  hear  the  happy 
voices  of  little  boys  and  girls  in  recitations  or  singing, 
also  the  music  of  the  pencil  upon  the  slate  and  the 
crayon  upon  the  blackboard. 

We  are  often  invited  to  the  school  exhibitions,  which 
are  very  interesting.  Then  the  little  students  vie  with 
each  other  to  show  the  amount  of  diligence  with  which 
they  have  studied ;  striving  with  hard  questions  upon 
the  blackboard,  speaking  dialogues,  poetry,  and  even 
delivering  orations,  generally  ending  with  music.  Words 
of  encouragement  and  good  cheer,  and  often  small  pres- 
ents,' are  then  given  to  our  dear  little  ones  by  their 
guardians  and  friends. 

Our  present  teachers  have  been  brought  up  from 
children  and  educated  in  this  community.  The  school 
stands  upon  an  even  basis  with  the  other  schools  in  New 
Gloucester,  and  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  Superin- 
tending School  Committee  of  the  town.  Children  out- 
side of  the  Society  who  live  near  attend,  and  their  par- 
ents seem  to  be  well  pleased  with  the  progress  they 
make. 

Just  one  hundred  years  ago  the  fourteenth  day  of  this 
month,  the  first  inhabitant  of  this  place  was  converted  to 
Shakerism.     His   name  was  Nathan  Merrill.     Within  a 


FOUNDERS    OF   THE    SOCIETY.  47 

fortnight  of  that  time,  nearly  all  the  families  around 
came  into  this  sacred  union.  In  man)-  cases  a  man's 
foes  became  those  of  his  own  household,  for  a  man  was 
set  at  variance  against  his  father,  and  the  daughter 
against  her  mother,  and  the  daughter-in-law  against  the 
mother-in-law. 

These  were  exciting  days,  and  a  goodly  number  from 
each  family  came  into  the  joint  relation.  They  could 
not  close  their  ears  to  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ, 
which  was  sounding  in  trumpet  tones,  "  He  that  loveth 
father  or  mother  more  than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me,  and 
he  that  loveth  a  son  or  daughter  more  than  me  is  not 
worthy  of  me.  And  he  that  taketh  not  his  cross  and  fol- 
loweth  after  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me." 

These  good  fathers  and  mothers  have  long  since 
passed  on  to  those  lovely  mansions,  made  without  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens.  Many  of  them  lived  to  extreme 
old  age.  In  early  youth  I  was  conversant  with  about 
fifty  of  them,  and  had  them  for  my  instructors.  They 
had  brought  their  lives  under  such  strict  discipline  that 
no  trial,  however  severe,  could  disturb  the  serenity  of 
their  spirits.     I  have  seen  them  grieved  but  never  ruffled. 

Last  evening  I  visited  a  library  containing  a  copy  of 
each  book  published  by  this  Order  since  it  was  founded. 
It  consists  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  volumes, 
with  their  revised  editions. 

These  books  have  been  collected  and  numbered,  and 
the  library  set  in  order  for  the  reception  of  other  books 


48  THE    ALETHEIA. 

that  may  be  published  by  the  untiring  efforts  of  Elder 
Otis  Sawyer.  Future  generations  will  look  upon  his 
works  and  call  him  blessed.  In  the  way  that  Solomon 
built  the  Temple  and  that  God  made  the  world,  so  has 
he  built  the  house  that  hath  been  reared  in  the  midst  of 
our  village  the  past  season.  He  said,  "Let  it  be  done," 
and  it  was  done. 

The  storms  of  winter  are  approaching.  Their  harbin- 
gers have  already  been  here,  following  a  long  and  beau- 
tiful Indian  summer,  which,  we  trust,  has  been  enjoyed 
by  all. 


LETTER  IX. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  SHAKERS. 

January,  1884. 
Editors  of  the  Messenger: — 

To-day  I  find  myself  seeking  out  the  beginning  of 
Shakerism.  The  first  thought  draws  me  to  a  company  of 
French  prophets  who  went  into  England  in  the  year  sev- 
enteen hundred  and  six.  They  taught  a  high  and  pure 
religion,  preparatory  to  a  greater  work  that  was  to 
follow. 

Those  French  prophets  extended  their  warnings  over 
the  greater  part  of  Europe.  The  few  who  went  into 
England  drew  many  into  their  ranks.  They  formed  no 
regular  societies  until  about  the  year  seventeen  hundred 
and  forty-seven,  when  a  small  society  was  organized  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Manchester,  under  the  leadership  of 
James  and  Jane  Wardley.  They  were  very  powerful  min- 
isters, and  taught  the  confession  of  sin  and  purity  of  life. 

In  their  meetings  the  people  had  wonderful  manifesta- 
tions of  divine  power,  swiftly  passing  and  repassing  each 
other  like  clouds  agitated  with  a  mighty  wind.      From 


50  THE    ALETHEIA. 

these  exercises  they  received  the  appellation  of  Shakers, 
a  very  appropriate  name,  for  the  Lord  hath  said,  "All 
the  men  that  are  on  the  face  of  the  earth  shall  shake  at 
my  presence,"  etc. 

When  this  little  society  was  organized,  Ann  Lee,  our 
Mother,  was  eleven  years  of  age,  but  did  not  unite  with 
these  people  until  she  was  twenty-two.  She  had  been  a 
very  peculiar  child  from  infancy,  serious  and  thoughtful, 
not  addicted  to  play  like  other  children.  She  often  told 
of  having  visions  of  supernatural  things.  Her  mother 
was  a  good  woman,  able  to  instruct  and  guide  her,  but 
she  died  when  Ann  was  quite  young,  and  left  her  with 
no  one  to  depend  upon  for  help.  She  was  early  married 
to  Abraham  Stanley  and  had  four  children ;  but  they  all 
died  in  infancy  except  one  little  girl,  who  attained  the 
age  of  six  years. 

In  her  married  life  she  found  nothing  but  condemna- 
tion and  sorrow,  although  her  husband  was  very  kind 
and  attentive  to  her.  She  felt  a  yearning  for  a  higher 
life,  and  the  burden  of  sin  and  the  depravity  of  human 
nature  lay  heavily  upon  her.  She  found  some  release- 
ment  by  uniting  with  James  and  Jane  Wardley,  strictly 
adhering  to  their  counsel  and  living  up  to  the  light  of 
their  society. 

The  religious  exercises  of  this  little  band  stirred  up 
the  opposition  of  the  people  around  them,  and  they  were 
severely  persecuted  and  often  imprisoned,  our  Mother 
receiving  her  share  with  the  rest. 


ORIGIN    OF   THE    SHAKERS.  5  I 

About  this  time  Oliver  Goldsmith  was  writing  "The 
Vicar  of  Wakefield."  In  order  to  /become  acquainted 
with  the  condition  of  society  in  England  at  this  period  I 
refer  the  reader  to  that  book.  Those  who  excited  preju- 
dices by  differing  from  others  in  sentiment  or  action, 
could  expect  but  little  justice  and  were  often  unmerci- 
fully abused. 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  seventeen  hundred  and  sev- 
enty that  our  Mother  was  imprisoned  in  Manchester, 
being  falsely  accused  by  her  enemies  of  breaking  the 
Sabbath.  After  a  scene,  of  deep  tribulation  of  soul, 
w^hen  her  way  was  seemingly  hedged  up  on  every  side, 
and  she  cried  mightily  to  God  for  deliverance,  the  rays 
of  Divine  Light  suddenly  broke  in  upon  her  spirit  and 
the  Heavens  of  Glory  were  spread  before  her  in  open 
vision.  She  saw  the  spirit  of  Jesus,  and  he  spoke  to  her 
words  of  love  and  comfort,  gave  her  a  mission,  assuring 
her  of  divine  protection  in  its  fulfillment,  and  revealed  to 
her  those  principles  upon  which  this  Order  has  been 
founded,  sacred,  eternal  and  true. 

When  she  was  released  from  prison  and  returned  to 
the  society,  her  Elders,  James  and  Jane  Wardley,  imme- 
diately saw  that  she  had  received  light  superior  to  theirs, 
and  they  and  their  people  willingly  acknowledged  her  as 
their  leader.  From  this  time  onward  she  was  called 
'•Mother"  by  her  faithful  followers.  It  has  been  said, 
that,  when  under  the  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  her  coun- 
tenance shone  with  the  glory  of  God,  and  her  form  and 


52  THE    ALETHEIA. 

actions  appeared  divinely  beautiful  and  very  angelic. 
The  power  and  influence  of  her  spirit,  at  such  times,  was 
great  beyond  description  ;  and  no  one  was  able  to  gain- 
say or  resist  the  authority  by  which  she  spoke. 

I  submit  this  letter  to  you,  trusting  that  the  message 
may  be  received,  and  with  the  prayer  that  the  day  may 
be  hastened  when  "The  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall 
cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 


MARY  ANN  GlLLESI'lE. 
Formerly  of  the  Maine  Ministry. 

Let  my  name  be  recorded 

In  the  book  the  angels  keep, 
Where  each  act  is  rewarded 

And  the  seed  I  have  sown  I  shall  reap. 
Then  when  the  Angel  Reaper  cometh, 

And  the  harvest  time  shall  te, 
I  shall  find  in  my  Father's  house 

There  's  a  mansion  reserved  for  me. 


LETTER  X. 

MOTHER  ANN'S  PERSECUTIONS  IN  ENGIAND. 

Editors  of  the  Messenger : — 

By  your  kindness,  I  have,  transiently,  been  allowed 
space  in  your  columns.  Judging  the  future  by  the  past 
I  am  encouraged  to  look  for  a  continuation  of  the  same. 
Many  erroneous  opinions  are  extant  in  regard  to  the 
Shakers,  and  it  is  but  fair  that  their  principles  should 
become  better  known.  Many  who  are  uninformed  are 
writing  about  them,  and  it  is  but  just  that  the  Shakers 
themselves  should  have  a  hearing.  As  I  said  in  a 
former  letter,  we  find  ourselves  to  be  best  liked  where 
we  are  best  known,  and  some  of  your  readers  may  de- 
sire to  become  better  acquainted  with  a  community  that 
has  prospered  and  gradually  grown  for  more  than  one 
hundred  years. 

Many  we  behold  who,  for  a  closer  walk  with  God, 
have  been  willing  to  forsake  father,  mother,  wife  and 
children,  houses  and  lands,  and  their  former  lives,  and 
have  in  return,  even  now,  in  these  community  homes, 
received    an    hundred    fold    of    fathers    and    mothers. 


54  THE    ALETHEIA. 

brothers  and  sisters,  houses  and  lands,  and  all  the  song 
of  their  souls  is : 

"  Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee,  nearer  to  Thee  ; 
E'en  though  it  be  a  cross  that  raise th  me." 

If  one  had  always  been  blind  and  had  never  seen  a 
sunbeam,  is  there  power  in  words  to  describe  it  so  that 
he  could  know  of  its  beauty?  If  one  had  always  been 
deaf  and  had  never  heard  the  song  of  a  bird,  is  there  a 
language  by  which  it  could  be  brought  perfectly  to  his 
understanding?  Even  so  words  fail  of  describing  the 
joys  of  the  redeemed  spirit. 

' '  Alone ,  O  love  ineffable , 

Thy  saving  name  is  given. 
To  turn  aside  from  thee  is  hell, 
To  walk  with  thee  is  heaven. 

"  Thy  litanies,  sweet  offices 
Of  love  and  gratitude  ; 
Thy  sacramental  liturgies. 
The  joy  of  doing  good." 

In  my  last  letter,  I  wrote  you  of  the  origin  of  the  Sha- 
kers ;  that  the  first  society  was  established  in  the  year 
seventeen  hundred  and  forty-seven,  and  that  our  Mother, 
Ann  Lee,  became  its  leader  in  the  year  seventeen  hun- 
dred and  seventy. 

Her  mission,  calling  people  as  it  did,  away  from  the 
selfish  private  family  life,  into  a  great  brotherhood  and 
sisterhood,  and  striking  a  deadly  blow  against  those 
indulgences  which  the  carnally  minded  so  much  desire, 


MOTHER     ANNS    PERSECUTIONS.  55 

Stirred  up  the  opposition  of  many,  and  caused  her  to 
have  relentless  enemies. 

Three  attempts  were  made  to  take  her  life  while  she 
remained  in  England.  Once  she  was  locked  in  a  prison, 
and  kept,  as  her  enemies  thought,  without  food  for  four- 
teen days,  with  the  intention  of  starving  her.  One  of 
her  follov/ers,  James  Whittaker,  whom  we  now  call 
Father  James,  then  a  youth,  went  each  night  after  the 
first  and  put  the  stem  of  a  pipe  through  the  key-hole  of 
the  door,  and  into  the  bowl  of  the  pipe  poured  wine  and 
milk,  by  which  our  Mother  received  nourishment  that 
sustained  her.  It  was  with  astonishment  that  her  ene- 
mies saw  her  walk  off  with  so  much  strength  when  they 
unlocked  the  door  at  the  end  of  the  fourteen  days, 
expecting  to  find  her  dead. 

At  another  time  they  accused  her  of  blasphemy,  and 
caused  her  to  have  a  trial  before  four  ministers  of  the 
Established  Church,  hoping  that  they  would  condemn 
her  to  have  her  tongue  bored  through  with  a  hot  iron. 
I  am  aware  that  this  is  dreadful  to  speak  of  in  these 
days,  but  great  cruelty  prevailed  at  that  time. 

The  ministers  requested  to  hear  her  speak,  and  she 
spoke  with  such  power  that  they  dismissed  her  at  once, 
and  advised  her  accusers  to  let  her  alone. 

This  enraged  them  to  such  a  degree  that  they  deter- 
mined to  take  the  power  of  judgment  into  their  own 
hands.  They  agreed  to  stone  her  for  blasphemy,  and 
led  her  into  a  valley.     Some  of  her  people  followed  and 


56  THE    ALETHEIA. 

kept  near  her.  Then  her  accusers  took  their  places 
upon  the  hill  opposite  and  commenced  to  throw  stones, 
but  missed  their  aim  in  every  instance  except  one.  One 
of  the  brethren  was  slightly  injured.  In  a  short  time 
those  men  began  to  quarrel  with  each  other  and  dis- 
persed, leaving  our  Mother  and  her  people  to  return  in 
peace  to  their  homes.  In  relating  these  circumstances 
to  some  of  the  believers  she  said:  "While  they  were 
throwing  their  stones  I  felt  myself  surrounded  with  the 
presence  of  God,  and  my  soul  was.  filled  with  love.  I 
knew  they  could  not  kill  me,  because  my  work  was  not 
done ;  therefore  I  felt  joyful  and  comfortable,  while  my 
enemies  felt  distress  and  confusion." 

Those  were  days  when  persecution  walked  rampant; 
when  life  was  often  taken  in  punishment  for  the  expres- 
sion of  a  religious  opinion.  But  at  that  same  time  a 
home  was  being  prepared  in  the  wilderness  of  America, 
where  freedom  of  thought  could  be  tolerated,  and  "To 
the  woman  were  given  two  wings  of  a  great  eagle,  that 
she  might  fly  into  the  wilderness,  into  her  place." 


ELDER   WILLIAM   DUMOXT. 
Sabbathday  Lake,  Maine. 

'  Who  will  walk  in  the  midst  of  the  flame 

When  the  gospel  fire  is  burning? 
Who'will  endure  to  te  made  wholly  pure 
Without  one  shadow  ofturning?  " 


LETTER  XI. 

ROYAL'S  RIVER— NOBLE  PIONEERS  OF  THE  TOWN- 
FIRST  SHAKER  MEETING  IN  NEW  GLOUCESTER 
—ELDER  ELISHA  POTE— DEATH  OF  ELDER  OTIS 
SAWYER— VISION  OF  MOTHER  ANN 

May,  1884. 
Mditors  of  the  Messe^iger : — 

This  morning  the  mist  is  rising  from  the  water-courses 
and  encirding  the  distant  hills.  Northeast  of  our  village 
we  can  trace  Royal's  river  through  the  "Woods  of  Pine," 
by  the  billow  of  mist  which  hangs  over  it,  as  it  finds  its 
way  to  the  sea  by  a  zigzag  course. 

"  The  winding  way  the  serpent  takes, 
The  mystic  river  took," 

as  in  all  the  years  that  are  past  it  has  borne  the  overflow 
of  Sabbathday  Lake  along  through  the  green  fields  and 
meadows,  around  the  hills  and  over  the  pasture  lands, 
until  it  reaches  the  ocean  at  Yarmouth,  eighteen  miles 
from  this  place. 

Up  this  river  were  poled  on  rafts  the  families  and 
goods  of  our  forefathers  in  the  fall  of  the  year  seventeen 
hundred  and  forty-two,  they  having  come  by  vessel  from 


58  THE    ALETHEIA. 

Gloucester,  Mass.     The  first  settlement  was  then  made 
upon  the  sunny  slopes  of  those  hills. 

Until  the  time  of  this  intrusion,  the  winding  stream 
had  been  hurrying  on,  "  unvexed  by  the  wheels  of  indus- 
try," since  that  far-distant  day  when  it  was  first  called 
into  being  by  the  "  Heart  of  Heaven." 

"  Come  forth,  O  Water  of  Serpents  ! 

In  sinuous,  gliding  grace 
^Vent  forth  the  queenly  river 

Unto  her  chosen  place. 
Then  called  he  the  youngest,  the  fairest, 

Step  softly,  Water  of  Birds  ! 
And  the  silver- footed  brook  stole  out, 

Singing  songs  that  had  no  words  !  " 

The  French  and  Indian  war  broke  up  this  settlement 
for  a  time.  Their  log-houses  were  destroyed  and  saw- 
mill burned  by  the  savages,  and  the  people  fled  back  tO' 
their  old  homes.  They  returned  in  the  spring  of  seven- 
teen hundred  and  fifty-four  and  built  a  fort  or  block- 
house, in  which  they  lived  six  years,  never  going  out 
unarmed. 

The  year  seventeen  hundred  and  sixty  brought  peace 
to  the  settlement.  The  old  homes  were  soon  restored,, 
and  the  wilderness  was  made  to  blossom  as  the  rose. 

The  names  of  men  of  stern  integrity  adorn  the  es- 
cutcheons of  this  town. 

William  Widgery  was  one  of  the  pioneers,  the  man 
who  was  obliged  by  his  charter  to  refuse  Marshal  Ney  a. 


FIRST    SHAKER    MEETING.  59 

passage  to  America  in  his  vessel,  upon  the  downfall  of 
Napoleon. 

Isaac  Parsons,  represented  as  the  man  with  a  stern 
look,  built  the  first  frame-house,  which  is  still  standing; 
and  O  how  sacredly  was  the  Sabbath  observed  in  that 
house!  His  descendants  are  among  the  most  respect- 
able people  living  around  us. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Foxcroft  was  the  Puritan  minister, 
who  for  many  years  dispensed  the  word  of  God  to  a 
united  people,  required  by  law  to  attend  to  his  teachings. 
When  he  laid  down  his  charge  in  the  year  seventeen 
hundred  and  ninety-three  it  was  with  sorrow  he  saw  his 
flock  scattered,  freedom  of  conscience  leading  each  man 
his  own  w'ay. 

The  first  Shakers  came  to  New  Gloucester  in  Novem- 
ber, seventeen  hundred  and  eighty-three,  and  held  meet- 
ings in  the  western  part  of  the  town.  Their  first  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  house  of  Gowen  Wilson,  Sr,,  which 
was  situated  in  the  field  just  south  of  our  large  garden, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  road.  Elisha  Pote,  a  young  man 
from  Gorham,  Maine,  took  the  lead  in  speaking.  He 
had  lately  become  a  convert  to  the  Shaker  faith.  His 
reasonings  were  clear  and  convincing,  and  his  voice  mild 
and  persuasive. 

Many  believed  the  new  doctrine,  and  the  Shakers  have 
occupied  this  ground  from  that  day  until  the  present 
time. 

The  society  was  organized  on  the  nineteenth  of  April, 


6o  THE    ALETHEIA. 

seventeen  hundred  and  ninety-four.  The  society  at 
Alfred,  Maine,  had  been  organized  a  short  time  previous, 
and  another  society  in  the  town  of  Gorham  soon  after. 

EHsha  Pote  afterwards  became  the  spiritual  leader  of 
the  three  Maine  societies,  and  occupied  that  place  many 
years.  He  died  at  a  great  age,  widely  known  and 
respected  by  all. 

His  second  successor  was  our  well-beloved  Elder  Otis 
Sawy^er,  who  in  the  month  of  March,  the  present  year, 
went  over  to  dwell  in  the  Paradise  of  God,  the  "House 
not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens."  Like  a 
beautiful  cloud  he  moved  from  our  sight,  but  the  Com- 
forter Cometh.  Upon  the  wings  of  the  morning  are 
wafted  these  words  to  the  sorrowing  ones,  "  Peace  I 
leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you :  not  as  the 
world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you,"  "and  lo,  I  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end." 

Why  should  we  mourn  when  he  is  with  us  nearer  than 
before,  when  he  is  leading  us  in  green  pastures,  and 
beside  the  still  waters?  His  pure  and  refined  spirit  has 
become  one  with  Christ,  even  as  Christ  is  one  with  the 
Heavenly  and  Eternal  Father  and  Mother. 

I  will  here  add  an  item  further  in  regard  to  that  ocean 
voyage  of  Ann  Lee  and  her  people.  As  I  wrote  you  in 
a  former  letter,  the  ship  which  brought  them  came  very 
near  sinking  in  mid-ocean  with  all  on  board,  and  was 
saved  by  a  miracle.  At  that  time  the  people  of  America 
were  commencing  the  struggle  for  independence.     The 


ELDER   OTIS  SAWVER. 
Formerly  Bishop  of  the  Societies  in  Maine. 
"Like   unto   the   grandeur   of   the   eastern   clouds  when  the  sun  is  rising,  so  is  the 
redeemed  spirit." 


VISION    OF    MOTHER    ANN.  6 1 

Angel  of  the  Lord  was  seen  by  our  Mother,  passing-  on 
in  advance  of  the  ship,  singing  with  a  mighty  voice : 

"  From  the  Heaven  of  Heavens 
O'er  sea  and  land  I  fly, 
Crying  sweet,  sweet  liberty  ! 
Peace,  peace  upon  earth, 
The  hand  of  the  Lord 
Has  freed  America. 
O  bless  this  blessed  day, 
Your  freedom ,  freedom  claim  ; 
And  prepare  ye,  all  people. 
Salvation  to  gain." 


IN  THE  WOODS  OF  PINE. 


Beautiful  trees  of  the  primitive  forests, 

Oft  in  your  shades  I  'm  delightfully  led, 
Culling  the  wild  flowers,  resting  in  green  bowers. 

Where  to  my  feet  a  rich  carpet  is  spread. 

Music  of  warblers  free  everywhere  greets  me, 

Blending  in  harmony's  unwritten  song; 
Lo,  from  the  depths  profound,  chanting  a  merry  round. 

Onward  the  ocean-bound  brook  glides  along. 

Wonderful  trees  with  your  branches  extending, 
Casting  your  shadows  and  shedding  your  dew, 

Moved  by  the  breezes,  dependently  bending, 
Gratefully  clouds  pass  their  shadows  o'er  you. 

Mighty  in  strength,  wealth,  and  pride  in  the  nation. 
Waving  in  grandeur  o'er  mountain  and  plain, 

If  ye  could  speak,  'twould  be,  "  Check  the  strong  axe-man. 
Save  and  protect  us,  ye  powers  of  Maine." 

Thus  the  great  Pine  Tree  State  may  by  an  effort 

Rescue  the  forests  by  which  she  is  blest, 
Finding  in  recompense  treasures  of  excellence. 

Richer  by  far  than  the  minds  of  the  West. 

Beautiful  trees  of  the  primitive  forest, 

O  how  delightful  to  walk  in  your  shade, 
Culling  the  wild  flowers,  resting  in  green  bowers, 

Where  underfoot  a  rich  carpet  is  laid  ! 


ELUliR   ABRAHAM    I'KKKI.N.S. 

[Age,  90  years.] 

Formerly  Bishop  of  the  Societies  in  New  Hampshire  and  Main*. 

O  beauteous  resurrection  morn  ! 
My  spirit  unto  thee  is  born  ; 

'i'liy  elements  I  love. 
Thy  air  I  breathe,  in  thee  I  live, 
The  substance  lost  I  now  retrieve. 

Which  opens  heaven  above, 

The  world  of  light  above. 


LETTER  XII. 


PROTESTATION  I. 

August,  1884. 
Editor  of  The  Increasing  Light: — 

Before  me  is  one  of  your  papers  containing  an  article 
in  regard  to  our  people.  The  writer  says  that  he 
strained  his  understanding  long  and  earnestly  to  o-et 
clear  on  a  certain  point,  and  that  he  failed  of  satisfac- 
torily finding  out.  when  he  attended  our  meeting  on  the 
Sabbath  of  the  twenty-second  of  July.  If  he  will  lend  us 
his  attention  a  few  moments  we  will  enlighten  him,  but 
ivill  first  say  that  we  notice  several  mistakes  in  his  com- 
munication to  which  we  greatly  demur;  and  as  we  desire 
that  our  principles  should  become  better  known  to  those 
outside,  it  ma)-  be  well  to  give  your  readers  the  other 
side  of  the  story. 

I  attended  the  meeting  of  which  he  writes,  but  did 
not  hear  the  gloomy  things  he  tells  about.  "But  this 
we  confess  unto  you  that  after  the  way  which  they  call 
heresy,  so  worship  we  the  God  of  our  fathers,"  believing 
in  the  inspired  word.     From  my  standpoint  it  was  the 


64  THE    ALETHEIA. 

worship  of  God  in  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Our  reverend 
Elder  stood  before  us,  his  silvery  locks  and  goodness  of 
heart  entitling  him  to  our  love  and  respect,  while  he 
nobly  held  forth  the  word  from  a  soul  overflowing  with 
love  to  God  and  humanity.  "Thou  shalt  rise  up  before 
the  hoary  head,  and  honor  the  face  of  the  old  man  and 
fear  thy  God ;  I  am  the  Lord." 

We  do  not  believe  in  the  Trinity.  To  us  God  is 
Father  and  Mother  and  has  been  from  the  beginning. 
In  this  we  are  sustained  both  by  the  Scriptures  and 
reason.  Jesus  was  an  inspired  man,  Ann  Lee  was  an 
inspired  woman.  Christ  is  the  Anointing  Power  that  all 
may  receive.  Inasmuch  as  Jesus  became  the  Christ  and 
as  Ann  Lee  became  the  Christ,  so  may  all  be  in  posses- 
sion of  the  same  spirit  to  that  degree  which  they  make 
themselves  worthy  by  good  works. 

We  know  that  all  can  not  be  Shakers,  and  we  have 
great  respect  for  those  parents  who  bring  up  their  chil- 
dren "in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord."  We 
have  no  sympathy  with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness. 
We  claim  that  the  generative  life  is  not  the  highest  life. 
The  example  that  Jesus  set  we  strive  to  follow. 

The  celebrated  veteran,  Frederick  Douglass,  attended 
the  meeting  in  question.  He  was  staying  at  Poland 
Mineral  Springs  for  his  health,  and  gave  us  the  pleasure 
of  seeing  him  in  the  audience.  This  circumstance 
tended  to  carry  our  feelings  back  to  those  turbulent  days 
through  which  our  country  passed  and  triumphed. 


J 

i    1 


«-  H*> 


ELDER  JOSHUA   BUSSELL. 
Alfred.   Maine. 

'  Deep  the  river  of  life  that's  flowing, 

Gently  gliding  serene  and  grand: 
Oh,  the  beauty  of  its  crystal  waters  I 

Laving  the  shores  of  the  promised  land. 
Sailing  along  on  its  peaceful  bosom 

Are  kindred  souls,  a  happy  band, 
Filled  with  songs  of  joy  and  rejoicing 

As  they  near  the  promised  land." 


PROTESTATION    I.  65 

As  we  would  lightly  pass  over  the  ridicule  of  the 
thoughtless  so  would  we,  like  Phocion  of  old,  scorn  the 
applause  of  the  giddy  multitude;  but  we  love  goodness 
wherever  it  is  found,  and  we  love  our  Shaker  brothers. 
They  are  worthy  of  our  confidence  and  trust. 


LETTER  XIII. 


PROTESTATION  II. 

August,  1884. 
Editor  of  the  Peoples  News: — 

In  your  paper  of  Saturday  was  a  letter  entitled 
"Among  the  Believers,"  and  the  thought  struck  me 
that  you  might  give  a  place  in  your  columns  to  a  letter 
from  one  of  the  Believers. 

In  view  of  Sabbathday  Lake,  in  view  of  the  green 
slopes  and  in  the  shade  of  the  round-topped  apple  trees, 
I  am  writing  to  you  this  sultry  August  day. 

Yesterday  was  Sunday,  and  the  "Little  Church"  was 
crowded.  Many  came  from  Poland  Springs,  two  miles 
distant  on  the  north.  Auburn,  Lewiston  and  Portland 
were  also  represented  in  the  audience.  All  here  to  wit- 
ness the  worship  of  this  peculiar  people.  Why  peculiar? 
Because  they  have  dared  to  differ  from  others.  In  look- 
ing round  upon  the  people  who  filled  our  church,  we 
could  not  help  observing  how  many  there  were  who  saw 
us  only  in  the  light  in  which  we  were  viewed  by  the  lady 
whose   letter   appeared   in  your  Saturday's  paper.     But 


PROTESTATION    II.  67 

there  was  a  class  there  who  saw  things  differently — who 
saw  nobility  and  dignity  in  the  Shaker  brothers,  who  saw 
loveliness  and  beauty  in  the  Shaker  sisters'  dress,  which 
was  not,  my  friend,  "selected  with  a  view  to  its  ugli- 
ness ; "  that  is  a  mistake,  but  with  a  view  to  utility  and 
comfort.  "Your  tastes  are  perverted,"  said  our  good 
Elder  Frederick  Evans  to  one  who  failed  to  see  beauty  in 
the  Shaker  sisters'  dress.  "Bad  diet  has  done  it,  or  you 
have  been  wrongly  educated." 

Communications  are  often  published  in  the  secular 
papers  in  regard  to  the  Shakers,  written  by  those  who 
understand  but  little  of  our  principles  or  manner  of  life, 
in  which  we  find  wide  deviations  from  the  truth,  and 
we  desire  a  hearing.  We  have  been  with  you  one  hun- 
dred years,  and  yet  are  in  a  great  measure  unknown  to 
you. 

The  writer  says  that  the  Shaker  brothers  are  honest. 
All  that  they  sell  proves  to  be  just  what  they  represent, 
and  with  the  next  breath,  that  the  rhythm  of  their 
motions  indicates  "We  are  nothing,  less  than  nothing. 
We  are  dreams."  An  honest  man  nothing  but  a  dream ! 
To  me  the  rhythm  of  their  motions  means,  "We  are  the 
noblest  work  of  God!  " 

Now  let  us  inform  you,  who  see  so  little  to  admire  in 
the  pure  life  the  Shakers  lead,  that  we  often  see  as  much 
in  your  lives,  in  your  beliefs  and  in  your  manner  of  dress 
that  seems  strange  and  unaccountable  to  us,  as  you  can 
possibly  see  in  ours  that  seems  strange  and  unaccount- 


68  THE   ALETHEIA. 

able  to  you.     But  we  will  wait  for  the  future  to  weigh 
all  things,  knowing  that  the  truth  will  finally  prevail. 

"  God's  ways  seem  dark,  yet  soon  or  late 

They  touch  the  shining  hills  of  day  ; 

The  evil  cannot  brook  delay. 
The  good  can  well  afford  to  wait ; 

Give  ermined  knaves  their  hour  of  crime , 
Ye  have  the  future,  grand  and  great, 

The  safe  appeal  of  truth  to  time." 


in    a 
C/3    v; 


FATHERS   AND   MOTHERS,  AN   HUNDRED 
FOLD  GREETING. 


[From  the  Manifesto.'] 

New  Gloucester,  April,  1884. 

You  whose  spirits  are  replete  with  that  perfect  love 
which  casteth  out  fear,  in  you  is  found  that  charity  which 
never  faileth,  binding  up  the  broken-hearted,  strengthen- 
ing the  weak,  and  comforting  the  afflicted.  In  you  is 
found  that  power  which  healeth  the  sick  of  sin,  casteth 
out  the  spirits  of  evil,  and  giveth  sight  to  those  who  are 
blinded  to  the  true  light  and  life. 

By  giving  up  all  you  have  received  all.  For  every  sac- 
rifice that  you  have  made  of  selfish  pleasures,  an  hun- 
dred fold  of  spiritual  blessings  has  filled  your  cup  to 
overflowing,  and  the  pathway  in  which  you  walk  is  lead- 
ing you  nearer  to  the  fountain  of  all  good,  nearer  and 
nearer  to  God. 

A  few  short  years  here  in  which  to  teach  your  disci- 
ples and  followers  to  do  as  you  have  done,  to  live  as  you 
have  lived,  and  then  the  real  home  in  the  Heaven  of 
Glory  is  opened  unto  you. 


JO  THE    ALETHEIA. 

"  They  are  slipping  away,  these  sweet,  swift  years, 

Like  a  leaf  on  the  current  cast ; 
With  never  a  break  in  their  rapid  flow, 
We  watch  them  as  one  by  one  they  go 

Into  the  beautiful  past." 

And  one  by  one  you  go,  beloved,  into  the  beautiful 
future,  into  the  home  of  the  redeemed,  a  home  that  you 
have  made  your  own  by  a  travel  of  soul  away,  far  away 
from  sordid  passions ;  redeemed  from  all  that  is  not  of 
God. 

Like  the  lake  in  midsummer,  when  the  air  is  still,  so  is 
the  redeemed  spirit.  Like  unto  the  tree  clothed  with  the 
blossoms  of  spring,  and  like  unto  the  tree  laden  with  the 
ripe  fruits  of  autumn,  so  is  the  redeemed  spirit.  Like 
unto  the  grandeur  of  the  eastern  clouds  when  the  sun  is 
rising,  so  is  the  redeemed  spirit. 

In  the  school  of  Christ  you  have  been  disciplined,  by 
the  fire  in  Zion  you  have  been  tried,  until  like  the  gold 
of  Ophir  you  are  purified;  and  now  saith  the  Spirit^ 
"  Ye  shall  walk  with  me  in  white,  for  ye  are  worthy." 

From  this  high  estate,  let  your  blessings  descend  like 
the  dew  of  Hermon  into  the  hearts  of  your  faithful  chil- 
dren. Let  your  mantles  rest  upon  those  who  follow  in 
your  footsteps,  and  you  shall  be  more  than  satisfied  when 
the  books  are  opened,  and  your  eyes  behold  the  record 
of  those  whom  you  have  led  along  in  the  Highway  of 
Holiness. 


THE  CHRIST  OF  THE  AGES. 


CREEDS— BAPTISM— THE  EUCHARIST— EQUALITY  OF 
THE  SEXES— THE  BIBLE— THE  ARTS  AND  SCI- 
ENCES. 

[From  the  Manifesto.'] 

January  15,  1896. 

"  Ring  out  the  darkness  of  the  land, 
Ring  in  the  Christ  that  is  to  be." 

In  the  January  Humanitarian  is  a  communication  by 
Paul  Tyner,  entitled,  "The  Christ  Ideal  in  Shakerism." 
He  says  that  Mother  Ann  Lee  believed  that  the  spirit 
of  Jesus  came  to  her  when  she  was  in  prison  in  Man- 
chester, England.  No  doubt  it  was  Jesus,  the  Christ, 
for  from  that  time  she  was  clothed  with  the  Christ  as 
with  a  garment. 

In  the  prison,  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
years  ago,  principles  were  revealed  unto  her  which  the 
development  of  the  sciences  have  been  unable  to  over- 
throw, principles  that  will  stand  to  the  end  of  time. 

The  revelation  which  she  received  was  a  harvest  from 
the  generative  life.     Also  that  the  mission  of  Jesus  upon 


72  THE    ALETHEIA. 

the  earth  was  to  teach  a  higher  Hfe  to  those  who  were 
able  to  receive  the  doctrine. 

When  she  returned  to  her  people  from  the  prison  she 
took  up  the  work  where  Jesus  had  left  it,  and  her  follow- 
ers were  not  of  the  world,  even  as  the  followers  of  Jesus, 
in  his  day,  were  not  of  the  world. 

In  the  Order  or  the  Community  which  she  founded, 
she  was  second  to  Jesus.  Jesus  was  the  first  to  teach 
the  higher  life,  Ann  Lee  was  the  second.  Both  were  in- 
spired by  "The  Christ."  Our  Mother  being  second  to 
Jesus  in  the  Shaker  Order  was  the  cause  of  her  followers 
making  use  of  the  expression,  "Christ  made  his  second 
appearance  in  Ann  Lee."  Christ  had  appeared  in  thou- 
sands before  our  Mother  lived,  and  also  before  the  days 
of  Jesus. 

New  truths  have  been  revealed  to  the  disciples  of 
Mother  Ann,  from  time  to  time,  ever  since  the  Shaker 
Order  has  been  established.  Our  brother,  Paul  Tyner,  is 
right  in  this.  Fast  upon  the  downfall  of  the  generative 
life  has  come  the  enlightenment. 

Creeds  have  fallen  before  the  Star  of  Revelation. 
The  Trinity  is  dethroned.  God  is  our  Heavenly  Father 
and  Mother.  The  atonement  by  the  death  of  Jesus  has 
passed  away. 

Baptism  by  water  is  supplanted  by  the  baptism  of  fire 
and  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Christ.  The  spiritual  fire  is  to 
consume  the  evils  inherent  in  the  human  soul,  the  tares. 
"There  is  a  fire  in  Zion,  and  a  furnace  in  Jerusalem." 


ELDRESS  LIZZIE  NOYES. 
Sabbathday  Lake.  Maine. 

'O  brighter  than  the  morning  star 

Is  the  heart  that  is  pure  and  free  ! 
And  the  hght  that  's  ever  glowing  there, 

The  star  of  purity. 
The  sun  shall  wane,  the  stars  go  down. 

And  reign  of  time  be  o'er, 
But  the  living  light  in  the  heart  that 's  pure 

Shall  shine  forever  more," 


EQUAI.I'n"    OF   THE    SEXES.  73 

The  Eucharist  is  understood  to  be  received  by  living 
the  pure  Hfe  which  Jesus  Hved — typified  by  the  body 
and  blood,  which  means  the  life. 

Endless  punishment  is  also  routed,  and  an  angry  God 
is  no  more.  But  the  sinner  finds  punishment  enough. 
Each  must  atone  for  his  own  sins,  by  bringing  them  to 
the  light  and  forsaking  theoi  forever.  When  reforma- 
tion is  complete,  the  punishment  is  removed. 

Proorression  after  death  is  also  established — a  travel  of 
the  soul  from  one  degree  of  grace  and  glory  to  another 
for  ever  and  ever.  A  soul  can  recede  from  God  after 
death,  yet  the  farther  he  gets  away,  the  harder  he  will 
find  it  to  return;  but  return  he  must  sooner  or  later. 
Even  the  Parsees  bring  back  their  first  old  evil  one, 
Ahriman  and  his  rebellious  host.  After  being  purified 
by  fire  they  all  return  and  are  forgiven. 

In  the  Shaker  Community  woman  has  taken  her  place 
as  an  equal  with  man,  b}-  intellectual  if  not  by  physical 
strength.  Where  there  is  an  Elder,  there  is  also  an  Eld- 
ress;  where  there  is  a  Deacon,  there  is  a  Deaconess, 
considered  equal  in  their  powers  of  government. 

The  Order  is  founded  upon  present  revelation  sus- 
tained by  the  inspired  Word.  God  is  as  able  and  willing 
to  reveal  his  will  to  man  to-day  as  he  was  two  thousand 
years  ago.  The  Bible  contains  much  that  is  inspired 
and  much  that  is  not,  but  God  has  placed  his  law  in  the 
hearts  of  his  people. 

A   Shaker   must  live  in  the  light,  he  must  walk  the 


74  THE   ALETHEIA. 

Straight  path  of  purity,  and  consecrate  himself  and  all 
that  he  has  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  cause ;  should  he 
depart  from  either  of  these  principles  he  ceases  to  be  a 
Shaker. 

The  arts  and  sciences,  in  a  future  day,  will  flourish 
under  the  patronage  of  those  living  the  highest  life,  the 
Shaker  life.  Heretofore  the  work  of  drawing  the  lines 
between  flesh  and  spirit  has  been  so  great  that  there  has 
been  no  time  to  give  to  any  other  thought  but  that  of 
watching  all  the  avenues  to  keep  out  the  evils  that  might 
enter  and  destroy  the  good  that  has  been  gained. 

In  the  new  heavens  and  new  earth,  all  that  is  pure  and 
elevating  in  art  and  the  sciences  will  be  understood  and 
appreciated. 


THY  WILL  BE  DONE. 


[From  the  Manifesto.'^ 

Is  there  any  reserve  in  this?  And  can  "Thy  kingdom 
come"  unless  the  will  of  God  is  done?  Are  we  able  to 
take  by  violence  and  hold  that  heavenly  kingdom,  which 
we  have  so  long  been  striving  to  obtain,  and  for  which 
so  many  have  fallen  in  the  fearful  struggle  ? 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  City,  the  New  Jerusalem, 
hath  come  down  from  God,  and  we  are  privileged,  spir- 
itually, to  walk  its  lovely  streets.  Here  wrangling  and 
confusion  are  very  much  out  of  place,  and  what  would  be 
our  appearance  in  soiled  and  ragged  garments  ?  Our 
spiritual  robes  cannot  be  clean  and  white  unless  we  live 
in  purity  in  thought  and  deed. 

We  have  been  assured  that  there  are  angel  bands  who 
march  through  the  heavens,  and  surround  the  throne  of 
the  Highest.  How  could  these  be  held  together  unless 
there  was  perfect  order,  and  each  had  his  place  assigned 
him  and  kept  himself  in  it?  Do  they  not  cheerfully 
move  in  the  spirit  of  "Thy  will  be  done"?  So  we  will 
cheerfully  resign  our  spirits,  and  follow  that  "cloud  by 
day  and  pillar  of    fire  by  night"  which  goes  before  the 


76  THE    ALETHEIA. 

chosen  people,  as  they  travel  away  from  the  wilderness 
of  sin.  "  The  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  man."  Believ- 
ing this,  we  find  God  in  our  union  with  his  saints.  Sep- 
arate our  spirits  from  them  and  we  are  lost,  like  wander- 
ing stars,  in  the  regions  of  darkness. 

"  He  that  overcometh  will  I  make  a  pillar  in  the  tem- 
ple of  my  God,  and  he  shall  go  no  more  out ;  and  I  will 
write  upon  him  a  new  name."  This  promise  is  for  us  if 
we  are  worthy ;  if  not,  others  will  take  our  places. 

Our  lives  are  required  at  our  hands.  Let  us  reserve 
nothing  for  self,  but  with  full  purpose  of  heart  resolve  to 
carry  out,  daily,  a  perfect  consecration,  and  realize  the 
hundred  fold  reward.  "He  that  loseth  his  life  for  my 
sake  shall  find  it,"  saith  the  Christ. 


MARY  ELLA  DOUGLASS. 

VV/io  left  her  companions  at  Sabbathday  Lake  for  a  more  beaiitifjil  home 

in  the  Spirit  Land.  February  9,  1893. 

"Sweet  Summer  Land,  O  Land  of  bright  glory  ! 
Thy  beautiful  fields  are  spread  out  before  me  , 
Thy  verdant  groves,  and  thy  vineyards  fair, 
And  my  soul  exclaims,  '  How  wonderful  they  are  ! '  " 


ANGELS  OF  THE  NEW  DISPENSATION. 


[Read  in  our  meeting  for  Soul  Communion.] 

Behold  we  come!  Wafted  upon  the  zephyrs  from  the 
Elysian  fields  we  come  unto  you.  Glory  and  brightness 
are  in  our  wake,  and  the  beautiful  rivers  of  heavenly  love 
are  rolling  onward,  deluging  the  land  from  shore  to 
shore. 

Home  of  the  favored  and  blest !  Home  of  the  pure 
and  the  true !  We  came  unto  you  first ;  we  came  unto 
you  in  the  early  dawn,  when  the  birds  sang  of  this  New 
Hope  that  is  now  being  established  by  the  scientific 
researches  of  the  day. 

Search  your  records,  for  laid  away  in  your  archives  are 
thousands  of  messages,  words  of  prophecy,  of  love,  and 
of  comfort,  which  we  brought  unto  you  before  we  went 
abroad  to  do  our  work  with  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
We  will  come  unto  you  again.  In  God's  good  time  we 
will  come. 

Hush!  breathe  not  a  thought  of  doubt  while  undergo- 
ing the  throes  of  a  mighty  change.  Not  one  jot  nor  one 
tittle  of  all  that  we  have  said  unto  you  shall  fail.     Your 


78  THE    ALETHEIA. 

banner  shall  be  raised  on  high ;  higher  than  ever  before 
shall  be  your  standard,  and  your  victory  shall  be  ac- 
knowledged by  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

Children  of  the  New  Hope,  look  well  to  the  path  in 
which  your  feet  are  found  to  be  walking,  for  on  the  plane 
of  nature  is  the  home  of  discord  and  strife.  We  can 
never  walk  with  you  there.  But  in  the  bower  of  purity 
and  spiritual  life  you  will  find  us.  Here  we  will  walk 
with  you,  and  talk  with  you,  and  sing  unto  you  the 
beautiful  songs  of  the  redeemed  among  men. 

Listen  and  you  shall  hear  our  voices.  Come  near 
unto  us  and  we  will  draw  near  unto  you.  We  will  feed 
you  from  our  ambrosial  stores,  and  clothe  you  in  fine 
linen,  clean  and  white.  Come  unto  us  all  ye  that  labor 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  we  will  give  you  rest. 

Amen  and  amen. 


LETTER  TO  THE  EDITOR  OF  THE 
MANIFESTO. 


November,  1889. 
Elder  Hc7iry  C.  Blinn: — 

You  gave  us  from  your  diary  in  the  November  Ma7ii- 
festo,  such  a  graphic  account  of  your  journey  and  visit  to 
the  Western  Societies,  that  it  almost  seems  that  we  went 
along  with  you  on  that  delightful  tour.  You  were  very 
kind  to  write  this  up  for  us,  and  we  thank  you  from  our 
hearts. 

The  November  Manifesto  is  very  interesting  to  us. 
The  music,  "Beautiful  Shore,"  awakens  memories  of 
loved  ones  who  have  gone  on  before,  and  are  now  enjoy- 
ing the  grandeur  and  beauty  of  that  heavenly  home; 
while  our  homes  here  are  so  vividly  described  that  we 
cannot  but  feel  how  good  it  is  to  be  joined  to  all  that  is 
lovely,  pure,  and  true. 

Now  I  must  own  that  the  lesson  for  the  Bible  class  is 
what  has  drawn  me  out  to  write  you  this  letter.  It  will 
be  very  interesting  to  read  the  answers  to  the  questions, 
and  I  hope  a  goodly  number  of  pupils  will  respond,  and 
by  so  doing  be  a  credit  and  honor  to  their  kind  teachers. 


8o  THE    ALETHEIA. 

It  seemed  to  me,  good  Elder  Henry,  while  reading 
over  these  questions,  that  I  would  like  to  give  you  my 
ideas  in  regard  to  them,  although  they  may  greatly 
diverge  from  the  opinions  of  others. 

First  answer:  The  two  verses  of  Psalms,  used  as  a 
prayer,  that  to  me  are  the  sweetest  and  strongest,  are 
the  tenth  and  the  eleventh  verses  of  the  eighty-fourth 
Psalm:  "  For  a  day  in  Thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thou- 
sand," etc. 

Second:  Is  there  a  more  noble  act  of  self-sacrifice 
recorded  in  the  Old  Testament  than  that  made  by  Jeph- 
thah's  daughter,  when  she  yielded  herself  so  willingly, 
that  her  father  might  keep  the  rash  vow  he  had  made 
unto  the  Lord? 

Third:  As  the  opinion  of  an  individual,  I  would  say 
that  the  grandest  character  in  the  Old  Testament  is  the 
Prophet  Daniel.  The  purity  of  his  life  was  very  nearly 
like  that  of  Jesus.  He  lived  the  angel  virgin  life,  ap- 
proaching divinity.  It  seems  that  Joseph  and  Job  were 
spotless  characters,  but  they  were  upon  the  plane  of 
nature. 

Fourth :  The  Book  of  Daniel  is  to  me  the  most  inter- 
esting book  of  the  Old  Testament,  notwithstanding  Rob- 
ert Elsmere  tells  us  it  is  a  fraud.  In  the  last  chapter  is 
the  sweetest  prophecy  of  all:  "  Blessed  is  he  that  wait- 
eth,  and  cometh  to  the  thousand,  three  hundred  and  five, 
and  thirty  days."  Has  that  time  come?  and  is  Daniel 
now  standing  in  his  lot,  at  the  end  of  the  days? 


ELDER   HENRY  C.  BLINN. 
Bishop  of  the  Societies  in  New  Hampshire. 

"Countless  millions  ages  hence 

Shall  sing  and  speak   the  praise 
Which  fills  the  heart  and  moves  the  lips 
Of  saints  in  latter  days." 


HOME    MATFEKS.  gl 

Fifth:  Matthew,  eleventh  chapter,  commencing  at  the 
twenty-eighth  verse:  "Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labor 
and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest,"  and  so 
on,  "and  ye  shall  find  rest  unto  your  souls,"  with  the 
conditions.  What  promise  could  be  more  comforting  to 
the  weary  ? 

Sixth :  Proverbs,  thirteenth  chapter,  sixth  and  sev- 
enth verses,  are  very  wise. 

Seventh:  The  forty-fifth  Psalm  is  most  jo^-ous.  and 
very  significant  to  the  followers  of  Mother  Ann  Lee: 
"My  heart  is  inditing  a  good  matter,"  etc. 

I  must  now  come  down  from  this  height  and  write  of 
home.  In  New  Gloucester  we  have  had  an  abundant 
crop  of  winter  apples,  very  fair  and  free  from  defects. 
Many  of  these  have  been  sold  at  a  good  price,  but 
enough  are  stored  with  other  fruits  and  vegetables  for 
future  use.  Thus  we  are  prepared  to  enter  the  cold 
season,  happy  in  the  anticipation  of  all  temporal  needs 
supplied,  while  the  loving  companionship  of  good  Broth- 
ers and  Sisters  crowns  the  whole  with  joy  unspeakable. 

Home  comforts  are  not  the  least  of  the  many  blessings 
bestowed  upon  us  by  our  Heavenly  Father  and  Mother. 


TRIBUTE  TO  ELDER  GILES  B.  AVERY  * 


Brothers  and  Sisters  in  Ch'ist : — 

The  great  change  which  we  all  anticipate  has  come  to 
our  reverend  Elder  Giles.  No  more  will  he  stand  before 
us  as  of  old,  his  countenance  beaming  with  inspiration, 
hope  and  joy.  But  from  those  evergreen  shores,  by  faith 
we  still  hear  his  voice  and  feel  the  same  power  from  his 
overflowing  spirit. 

Long  years  ago,  when  very  young,  I  remember  hear- 
ing Elder  Otis  Sawyer  say,  "  I  have  received  a  letter 
from  an  angel  of  the  Lord." 

"And  who  might  that  angel  be?"  was  the  question 
propounded. 

He  answered,  "Giles  B.  Avery  of  Mount  Lebanon,  N. 
Y."  That  was  before  either  of  them  took  their  later 
spiritual  burdens. 

By  and  by  he  stood  before  us  as  one  of  the  leaders  of 
our   fair  Zion,  and  the  impression  was  strong:     There 


*0f  the  Central  Ministry,  who  passed  away  from  earth  December  27, 
1890,  at  Watervliet,  N.  Y. 


GILES  B.  AVERV. 

"  The  Angel  of  the  Lord." 

I  want  to  feel  my  spirit  blest, 
Find  for  my  soul  a  home  of  rest, 
And  my  union,  pure  and  strong, 
With  the  heavenly  orders  moving  on. 


TRIBUTE    TO    ELDER    GILES    B.    AVERY.  83 

Stands  "  the  angel  of  the  Lord."     And  so  it  has  remained 
up  to  this  day. 

There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight, 

It  is  not  far  away, 
And  there,  arrayed  in  garments  white. 

Our  Elder  walks  to-day. 
He  sends  to  us  a  blessing  pure , 

A  message  to  abide, 
O  Zion,  thou  wilt  stand  secure, 

For  God  is  on  thy  side. 


LETTER  TO  COUNT  LEO  TOLSTOL* 


Sabbathday  Lake,  Maine,  February,  1891. 

Dear  Friend  and  Brother : — 

Here  in  America  is  a  home  prepared  for  those  who 
desire  to  Kve  pure  Hves,  and  the  Christ  spirit  revealed 
through  Ann  Lee  is  the  foundation  thereof,  and  the 
spirits  of  the  redeemed  administer  thereunto. 

The  indwellers  of  this  home  are  now  beholding  a  light 
on  the  distant  horizon.  It  is  the  light  from  your  strong- 
hold, and  it  can  never  be  quenched. 

Your  companion,  in  that  she  is  sacrificing  herself  to 
sustain  you  in  your  convictions  of  right  and  in  living 
them  out,  is  largely  endued  with  the  spirit  of  Christ. 
We  are  thankful  at  every  thought  that  you  have  such 
a  help  at  your  side,  and  also  that  your  daughter  Titiana 
is  proving  herself  worthy  of  such  a  father. 

In  bringing  to  light  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness, 
you  have  gone  to  the  depth  of  human  depravity,  as  Ann 
Lee  has  done  before  you. 


*  This  letter  was  suggested  by  reading  the  "Kreutzer  Sonata,"  and  was 
forwarded  to  Count  Leo  Tolstoi  at  Tula,  Russia,  by  Brother  Alonzo 
Holister  of  Mt.  Lebanon,  N.  Y. 


LETTER    TO    COUNT    LEO    TOLSTOL  85 

"  She  stripped  a  carnal  nature 
Of  all  its  deep  disguise, 
And  laid  it  plain  and  naked 
Before  the  sinner's  eyes." 

You  have  done  the  same,  and  the  sinners  of  the 
nations  are  now  in  a  squirming  condition.  The  Word 
which  went  forth  from  Ann  Lee  one  hundred  years  ago 
has  now  gone  forth  from  you,  and  the  trumpet  gives  no 
uncertain  sound. 

Ann  Lee  arose  in  the  dawning  of  the  morning  and 
took  upon  hefself  the  spirit  of  Christ,  the  same  spirit 
that  baptized  the  man  Jesus.  He  was  the  first  among 
many  Brethren.  She  is  the  first  among  many  Sisters. 
"And  this  is  the  name  wherewith  she  shall  be  called, 
'The  Lord  of  our  Rio^hteousness.' " 

The  women  of  the  nations  are  following  in  her  wake, 
asserting  themselves  equal  to  their  brothers,  both  in  the 
sciences  and  governments.  They  will  acknowledge  her 
and  confess  her  name  when  they  find  out  the  spirit  that 
is  leading  them. 

Jesus  was  administered  to  by  the  spirits  of  the  just. 
He  saw  them.  His  disciples  saw  them.  And  you,  dear 
friend,  have  a  mighty  host  around  you.  They  whisper  to 
your  spirit ;  you  listen  and  write.  They  lay  their  hands 
of  blessing  upon  you ;  you  feel  and  receive. 

God's  people  everywhere  are  sending  you  their  love 
and  encouragement. 

Your  sister  is  the  cause  of  self-denial. 


JESUS— BUDDHA— THE   SERMON   ON  THE 

MOUNT. 


[From  the  Manifesto.'] 

In  The  Arena  for  March,  1892,  Charles  Schroder  asks 
the  question,  "Where  do  we  find  the  Christian  teachers 
of  any  sect,  creed,  or  denomination,  who  dare  to  preach 
and  live,  or  even  accept  this  grand  sermon  in  its  entire- 
ty?" If  he  should  visit  the  Shaker  Communities,  he 
would  find  a  people  who  do  accept  the  Sermon  on  the 
Mount  as  their  guide,  whose  aim  is  to  control  their  lives 
by  its  teachings  in  every  respect.  He  would  find  in 
them  some  who  are  true  followers  of  Jesus,  The  Christ, 
and  who  have  in  reality  entered  "The  Path"  and  are 
walking  the  straight  and  narrow  way. 

During  the  six  hundred  years  from  Buddha  to  Jesus, 
spiritual^  light  was  increasing,  and  Friend  Schroder  is 
right  in  ranking  the  teachings  of  Buddha  second  to 
those  of  Jesus. 

Both  of  these  great  teachers  opened  to  the  people  a 
"  Path,  which  the  vulture's  eye  hath  not  seen.  The 
lion's  whelps  have  not  trodden  it,  nor  the  fierce  lion 
passed  by  it." 


BUDDHA.  87 

"Enter  the  path,"  said  Buddha,  to  those  who  would 
become  his  followers  (among  them  were  some  of  his 
nearest  relatives),  when  he  returned  from  the  wilderness, 
enlightened,  illumined,  and  all  animal  passions  subdued. 

"  Straight  is  the  gate  and  narrow  is  the  way  which 
leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it,"  said 
Jesus. 

In  all  the  ages  that  are  passed,  how  few  there  have 
been  who  have  entered  the  straight  and  narrow  way  and 
turned  neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left,  but  kept 
onward  and  upward  until  they  have  reached  the  heights 
for  which  they  started. 

These,  by  the  discipline  brought  to  bear  upon  their 
daily  lives,  have  found  their  spirits  purified,  all  selfish- 
ness eradicated,  and  every  evil  passion  subdued.  That 
it  can  be  done  has  been  proved  by  loyal  souls.  If 
Friend  Schroder  will  visit  Mt.  Lebanon,  N.  Y..  East 
Canterbury,  N.  H.,  even  our  little  home  at  Sabbathday 
Lake,  Maine,  or  any  of  the  Shaker  Societies,  he  will  find 
people  who  lift  up  their  voices  in  denunciation  of  war, 
and  all  the  evils  of  the  day  and  also  of  the  night. 

It  is  not  because  their  number  is  small  that  they  are 
not  heard.  The  multitude  have  blinded  their  own  eyes 
and  stopped  their  own  ears.  They  will  not  see,  they 
will  not  hear. 


THE  SHAKERS  AND  THEIR  HOMES."^ 


[From  the  Manifesto.'] 
Sabbathday  Lake,  Me.,  February,  1893. 
Brothers  and  Sisters  of  the  Highest  Life : — 

From  victory  to  victory  in  the  path  of  purity  you  have 
walked  from  youthful  days  until  the  present  time,  and 
now  as  said  the  beloved  apostle  so  can  you  say,  "We 
know  that  we  are  of  God,  and  the  whole  world  lieth  in 
wickedness." 

Elder  Giles  B.  Avery  once  said,  "Zion  is  the  working 
hands  of  God  in  the  world."  It  then  becomes  the  duty 
of  believers  to  "  sow  light  till  the  world  is  aglow."  If 
we  fail  to  do  this,  others  may  arise  to^'take  our  birth- 
right, and  it  is  now  evident  that  light  is  greatly  needed 
to  shine  abroad  over  the  earth. 

Whenever  we  come  in  contact  with  those  outside,  we 
find  that  we  are  very  imperfectly  known  unto  them. 
The  questions  which  meet  us  at  every  turn  are  like  these : 
"What  is  your  religious  belief?"  "What  is  the  difference 
between  you  and  the  Quakers?"  "  Have  you  books  that 
will  inform  us  of  your  history  and  manner  of  life  ?  " 

*By  Charles  Edson  Robinson. 


OUR  CHILDREN. 


\ 

"THE    SHAKERS    AND    THEIR    HOMES."  89 

In  answer  to  the  last  question,  we  tell  them  that  we 
have  books,  large  and  small,  and  we  have  let  them  have 
a  great  man)-  written  by  those  of  long  spiritual  travel 
and  deep  theological  study  and  experience.  Thousands 
will  yet  arise  to  call  our  good  Father  ¥.  W.  Evans 
blessed  for  the  labors  from  his  brain  and  pen,  and  also 
others  who  have  toiled  in  the  same  field. 

But  "variety  is  the  spice  of  life,"  and  one  outside  of 
our  homes  has  written  an  interesting  series  of  articles,  in 
a  very  friendly  spirit,  giving  the  history  of  the  Order 
from  its  commencement ;  of  the  organization  of  the  Soci- 
eties, and  the  foundation  principles  by  which  they  are 
governed;  also  biographical  reminiscences,  together  with 
illustrations  of  nearly  all  our  villages  and  some  of  our 
leading  members.  These  articles  have  appeared  during 
the  last  two  )-ears  in  the  Manufacturer  and  Builder,  a 
magazine  published  in  New  York  City. 

The  work  has  been  revised  and  very  kindly  given  to 
us,  with  the  use  of  the  plates  for  the  illustrations,  by  the 
writer  of  the  series,  our  good  friend,  Charles  Edson  Rob- 
inson, who  it  seems  has  made  the  lives  of  God's  people 
a  study,  and  is  himself  not  far  from  the  kingdom. 

At  a  sacrifice  of  time  and  labor  the  work  is  now  being 
printed  and  put  into  book-form  by  Elder  Henry  C. 
Blinn,  editor  of  the  Manifesto.  His  reward  is  with  him, 
to  give  unto  the  people  according  as  their  subscriptions 
to  the  books  have  been. 

In  our  correspondence  with  the  Brothers  and  Sisters 


90  THE    ALETHEIA. 

of  the  different  Societies,  in  regard  to  the  work,  the  kind 
spirit  in  which  we  have  been  answered  has  filled  our 
hearts  with  thankfulness.  We  are  particularly  grateful 
for  the  approval  and  help  of  the  Elders  of  the  North 
Family,  Mt.  Lebanon.  It  is  our  hope  and  trust  that  in 
the  future  new  editions  of  and  additions  to  this  work 
may  be  made,  until  "the  knowledge  of  the  Lord  shall 
cover  the  earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea."  Even  now 
the  tide  of  adversity  is  rolling  back  and  prosperity's 
waves  are  rolling  in. 

The  Voice  of  the  Spirit  will  be  heard  to  the  uttermost 
parts  of  the  earth. 

*'  For  the  angels  are  coming  down  from  heaven, 
To  bless  the  people  anew. 
They  are  coming  with  rich  and  beautiful  gifts 
For  every  one  of  you." 


ADDRESS  TO  THE  SCHOOL  AT  SABBATHDAY 

LAKE. 


I  was  made  happy  this  afternoon  by  an  invitation  to 
visit  your  school.  I  find  that  it  has  been  a  very  profita- 
ble term  to  you.  The  improvement  that  you  have  made 
is  plainly  to  be  seen.  The  teachers  have  done  credit  to 
themselves,  and  the  pupils  are  a  credit  to  their  teachers. 

All  who  have  attended  here  this  winter  are  not  schol- 
ars, but  all  are  pupils.  Appearances  show  that  the 
pupils  have  been  trying  very  hard  to  become  scholars. 

Your  school-days  are  slipping  away,  term  after  term. 

In  future  years  you  will  recall  these  days  as  the  happi- 
est period  of  your  lives,  and  the  very  sight  of  an  old 
book  that  you  used  in  school  will  send  a  thrill  of  de- 
light through  your  whole  being. 

As  you  advance  in  life,  you  will  sense  more  and  more 
the  sacrifices  that  your  teachers  have  made  for  you.  Of 
these  you  can  have  but  little  idea  now.  I  know  the  joys 
and  the  sorrows  of  a  teacher's  life.  I  know  the  hopes 
and  the  fears,  and  I  know  how  the  teacher  enters  into 
the  little  life  of  each  child  under  her  charge,  and  I  know 
how  it  hurts  her  to  take  away  your  merits.     But  I  hope 


92  THE    ALETHEIA. 

you  have  not  lost  your  merits.  I  hope  you  are  all  enti- 
tled to  prizes. 

You  are  going  out  into  the  spring  that  will  soon  be 
upon  us.  The  mayflowers  will  bloom  in  the  green  pas- 
tures, the  violets  and  buttercups  will  appear,  and  many 
pleasures  will  be  yours  as  you  roam  over  the  fields  of 
your  beautiful  home.  While  you  are  enjoying  all  this, 
do  not  forget  your  school-lessons,  but  let  them  combine 
to  teach  you  to  be  good  men  and  good  women  in  all 
your  future  years. 

You  have  many  friends  who  are  watching  you  anx- 
iously. You  must  not  only  be  to  them  all  that  they 
expect,  but,  if  possible,  you  must  be  to  them  all  that 
they  desire. 

And  now  farewell  for  the  present.  I  hope  to  meet 
you  here  again  in  the  lovely  month  of  June.  Then  the 
birds  will  be  singing  in  a  thousand  tree-tops,  and  the 
orchards  and  gardens  will  be  blooming  in  beauty. 


w.* 


INVOCATION. 


DELIVERED  AT  THE  DEDICATION  OF  THE  NEW  CEN- 
TER DWELLING,  THANKSGIVING  DAY,  1884. 

"Will  God  dwell  on  the  earth?" 

Behold,  the  Heaven  and  the  Heaven  of  Heavens  can 
not  contain  thee,  how  much  less  this  house  that  has 
been  built  unto  thy  name!  Yet  have  thou  respect  unto 
the  prayers  of  thy  people  this  day,  that  thine  eyes  may 
be  open  towards  this  house  in  all  coming  time.  For 
thou  hast  said,  "  My  name  shall  be  there." 

Our  Heavenly  Father  and  Mother,  who  sustained  our 
parents  who  have  gone  before,  who  opened  a  way  for 
them  in  the  wilderness,  and  strengthened  their  hands  to 
build  up  this  beautiful  home  for  us  to  enjoy,  grant  that 
this  house  that  stands  on  the  site  of  the  one  they  reared 
may  be  a  continuation  of  the  same,  with  an  increase. 

Hear  thou  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise  which 
ascends  to  thy  throne  this  day,  from  thy  consecrated 
and  devoted  people. 

Bless  thou  the  spirits  of  the  fathers  and  mothers  who 
have  laid  down  their  lives  in  this  place. 

And,  O  bless  with  a  special  blessing  Elder  Otis  Saw- 


94  THE    ALETHEIA. 

yer,  who  went  out  from  among  us  in  the  midst  of  his 
labors  in  the  beauty  and  glory  of  heavenly  light ;  whose 
spirit  is  now  here,  a  watchful  guardian,  beaming  with  the 
brightness  and  joys  of  immortal  youth. 

And,  O  our  Heavenly  Father  and  Mother,  grant  that  a 
double  portion  of  thy  blessing  may  rest  upon  our  be- 
loved leaders,  the  Ministry  of  the  Bishopric  in  Maine. 
May  the  heavy  burdens  be  lifted,  and  their  spirits  filled 
with  joy  unspeakable. 

And  all  our  loving  Elders,  hear  thou  from  thy  throne 
in  the  heavens,  that  the  sunshine  of  thy  love  may  abide 
with  them  forever. 

Send  thou  a  message  of  peace  to  the  aged  ones  who 
meet  here  and  renew  the  heart  of  each  toiling  brother 
and  sister. 

May  this  day  long  be  remembered  by  every  little  child 
whose  home  is  in  the  beautiful  Zion  of  God  in  this  place. 

Amen  and  amen. 


NEW  YEAR'S  GREETING. 


[From  the  Ma7iifesto.~\ 
Brothers  and  Sisters  of  the  Household  of  Faith: — 

Our  good  Sister  Ada  S.  Cummings,  who  writes  our 
monthly  notes  for  the  Manifesto,  has  some  trouble  with 
her  eyes  and  therefore  must  be  careful  for  the  present. 
As  she  cannot  write  until  the  time  will  be  past  for  you  to 
receive  our  New  Year's  greeting  in  the  January  number, 
I  thought  I  would  tell  you  that  we  at  Sabbathday  Lake 
wish  you  all  a  happy  New  Year. 

It  is  a  haz}-  Sabbath,  not  what  we  would  call  foggy,  for 
the  sun  is  shining  almost  through,  and  it  makes  us  think 
that  heaven  is  beyond  only  a  little  way.  We  attended 
our  religious  service  and  heaven  appeared  right  in  our 
midst,  no  haze  to  separate.  Eldress  Harriet  Goodwin 
spoke  beautifully  to  the  youth  and  children,  and  said  that 
she  had  noticed  a  marked  improvement  in  their  deport- 
ment, and  this  is  what  her  loving  motherly  eye  is  quick 
to  see.  Their  Elders  and  teachers  spare  no  pains  with 
them,  and  they  show  that  they  are  giving  good  heed  to 
the  kind  instruction  which  they  receive  from  day  to  day. 

This  afternoon  I  visited  Sister  Ada  and  her  company 


96  THE    ALETHEIA. 

of  little  girls.  They  were  just  arranging  for  a  meeting  of 
their  own.  I  asked  if  I  could  be  a  spectator,  and  liberty 
was  granted  at  once.  They  had  leaders  appointed  from 
their  own  number,  and  the  order  was  perfect.  The  gifts 
of  the  spirit  were  really  made  manifest. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  meeting  I  taught  them  the 
"Celestial  March"  and  other  religious  exercises,  which 
made  the  worship  of  our  fathers  and  mothers  so  beau- 
tiful ;  and  that  caused  me  to  think  of  the  pure  and  holy 
lives  which  our  fathers  and  mothers  lived.  O  how  white 
and  clean  are  the  spiritual  robes  of  the  children  of  the 
resurrection ! 

These  are  Sabbathday  notes  and  temporal  matters  are 
left  out.  So  in  the  commencement  of  the  New  Year  we 
will  seek  the  spiritual  first,  then  the  temporal  blessings 
will  be  added. 


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WINTER. 


[From  the  Manifesto.'^ 

"  'Tis  done  !     Dread  Winter  spreads  his  latest  glooms, 
And  reigns  tremendous  o'er  the  conquered  year." 

What  is  that  to  us?  We  but  slightly  feel  its  effects, 
hived  together  as  we  are  in  our  pleasant  dwellings, 
enjoying  the  hoarded  increase  of  our  broad  fields,  our 
gardens,  orchards  and  vineyards.  We  saw  the  spring, 
summer  and  autumn  pass  away,  while  joys  and  sorrows 
alternately  filled  our  cup.  We  mingled  our  tears  when 
affliction's  wave  rolled  over,  and  exulted  together  in  the 
blissful  hour. 

Pleasant  memories  arise  of  much  that  we  have  enjoyed 
in  the  year  that  has  passed,  particularly,  those  seasons 
when  our  brothers  and  sisters  visited  us  from  other  Soci- 
eties of  Believers.  You  came  to  see  us  from  your  beau- 
tiful homes,  and  with  you  came  a  blessing  that  passeth 
not  away  with  the  onward  flow  of  time. 

We  remember  when  we  united  in  songs  of  praise  in 
the  sanctuary,  and  the  word  went  forth  for  judgment  and 
mercy  to  all  who  would  listen,  from  far  and  near.  We 
remember  pleasant  walks  over  this  consecrated  domain. 


98  THE    ALETHEIA. 

and   rides   over    the  hills  and  dales  of  the  neighboring 
towns.     Those  days  are  passed,  but  the  joy  remaineth. 

A  good  aged  father,  Albert  Battles,  from  the  Society 
of  Enfield,  Conn.,  visited  us  in  the  beautiful  month  of 
June,  and  in  a  social  meeting  sang  of  his  great  love  to 
Mother  Ann  Lee,  who  held  aloft  the  standard  of  purity, 
and  revealed  principles  which  are  now  widely  accepted. 
We  were  awakened  to  a  realizing  sense  of  the  vastness 
of  her  mission,  overthrowing  creeds,  and  establishing 
theories  which  cannot  be  shaken  by  the  increase  of  light 
in  the  world,  nor  the  forward  march  of  science. 

"  O  my  mother,  my  blessed  mother, 

Her  name  to  me  is  dear ; 
I  '11  praise  her  name,  I  '11  spread  her  fame, 

And  kings  and  priests  shall  hear. 
There  's  many  thousands  praised  her  name, 

And  shall  be  many  more  ; 
Yea,  millions,  millions,  tens  of  millions 

Shall  her  name  adore." 

Father  James  Whittaker,  when  a  young  man  in  Eng- 
land, saw  a  vision  of  the  Order  that  was  yet  to  be  estab- 
lished in  America,  and  it  was  like  unto  a  beautiful  tree — 
every  leaf  thereof  shone  with  the  brightness  of  the  sun. 
Those  leaves  are  gems  of  priceless  worth,  held  in  place 
by  the  branches,  receiving  nourishment  from  the  root, 
drawing  life  from  the  atmosphere  around,  the  rain,  the 
dew  and  the  sunshine  of  the  heavens.  Those  leaves  are 
my  brothers   and    sisters    inhabiting   the    Zion    of   God, 


WINTER.  99 

clothed  with  the  love  and  growing  in  the  likeness  of  our 
Heavenly  Parents. 

In  worship,  I  have  seen  them  pass  and  re-pass  each 
other  like  the  angels,  singing: — 

"  'T  is  the  kind  words,  'tis  the  sweet  words, 
That  cheer  the  down-hearted, 
That  lift  up  the  spirit 
From  doubt  and  despair. 

0  then  I  will  speak  them 
Unto  you,  my  brother  ! 

1  '11  breathe  forth  a  blessing 
To  you,  my  dear  sister." 


VISIT  TO  THE  SOCIETY  AT  ALFRED. 


[From  the  Manifesto.'] 
Sabbathday  Lake,  Me.,  November,  1896. 

Beloved  Elder  Henry : — 

I  write  to  tell  you  of  my  visit  to  Alfred  in  the  days  of 
the  Indian  summer,  from  the  twenty-fourth  to  the  thirty- 
first  of  October. 

By  the  Portland  and  Rochester  train  we  were  brought 
directly  overland,  in  plain  sight  of  the  village,  around  the 
east  side  of  the  beautiful  Massabesic  Lake,  to  Alfred 
Corner,  two  miles  from  our  destination.  Here  we  were 
met  by  Brother  Frank  Libby  and  Eldresses  Harriet  Good- 
win and  Eliza  R.  Smith,  with  a  carriage  to  take  us  home. 

It  was  a  lovely  ride  along  the  lakeside,  the  autumnal 
foliage  decking  the  forests  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see, 
amid  slight  zephyrs,  the  thought  of  which  was  just  suffi- 
cient to  fan  away  all  earthly  cares.  In  the  society  of 
those  we  love,  how  quickly  time  passes  !  We  soon  arrive 
at  the  office.  Here  we  find  Sister  Lucinda  Taylor  waiting 
to  receive  us,  and  by  her  kindness  and  that  of  those  with 
her  all  our  needs  are  anticipated  and  ministered  unto. 

And  now  a  thought  of  the  sudden  change — a  week  to 


ELDER   HENRY  G.  GREEN. 
Alfred,  York  County^  Maine. 

'  There  is  a  kingdom  forever  increasing 

Where  robes  of  redemption  are  worn, 
Where  the  sun  of  righteousness  iDeaming 

Createth  an  eternal  morn. 
I  am  winning  that  kingdom  so  holy, 

I  am  weaving  those  garments  so  fair, 
Enshrouding  mj'  soul  in  bright  glory, 

As  the  cross  through  life's  burdens  I  bear.' 


VISIT    TO    THE    SOCIETY    AT    ALFRED.  TO  I 

rest  from  the  cares  and  burdens  incident  to  home  Hfe, 
that,  during  the  past  season,  from  the  rush  of  business, 
was  almost  overpowering.  Instead  of  caring  for  others, 
all  are  striving  to  care  for  you. 

Upon  the  Sabbath  we  met  for  divine  service.  Promi- 
nent in  the  assembly  were  our  venerable  Elders,  Joshua 
Bussell  and  Hiram  Tarbox,  in  spirit  firm  as  the  hills, 
bearing  the  same  testimony  that  we  have  often  heard 
from  them  in  the  days  that  are  past,  both  here  and  in 
our  home  at  Sabbathday  Lake.  Beloved  and  conse- 
crated ones,  your  spiritual  children  will  reap  in  joy  what 
you  have  sown  in  tears. 

I  cannot  tell  you  of  all  the  joys  of  those  days,  for  space 
will  not  permit,  but  I  will  speak  of  the  willow  trees  that  I 
went  to  see  one  afternoon.  They  grew  by  the  side  of 
the  old  road  over  which  Father  James  Whittaker  came 
when  he  visited  Alfred  in  the  year  1785.  He,  and  the 
Elders  with  him,  stuck  the  withes  that  they  had  driven 
their  horses  with  into  the  ground.  They  took  root  and 
grew  to  be  these  great  trees,  nearly  three  feet  in  diam- 
eter. The  one  that  Father  James  set  has  fallen,  and 
from  the  side  of  the  trunk  three  or  four  largfe  willows 
are  growing.  These  will  be  succeeded  by  others.  The 
root  will  not  die  out  and,  as  the  willow  trees  grow  on 
and  on,  the  seeds  of  eternal  truth  which  Father  James 
planted  in  this  place  will  also  grow.  Those  principles 
will  never  die.  These  were  my  thoughts  as  I  stood  up- 
on the  log  of  the  fallen  willow  on  that  lovely  afternoon. 


I02  THE    ALETHEIA. 

In  the  cemetery  we  saw  the  names  of  the  fathers  and 
mothers  who  gave  themselves,  with  all  they  had,  to 
found  this  home  for  those  who  would  follow  in  their 
footsteps,  and  live  the  high  and  pure  life  required  of  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  God.  The  final  consecration  was 
made  when  the  Society  was  organized  in  the  year  1793, 
Here  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives,  living  to- 
gether as  brothers  and  sisters,  sharing  equally  in  every 
temporal  blessing.  I  noticed  the  names  John  Barnes, 
Elisha  Pote,  Rebecca  Hodgdon,  and  many  others. 
Names  to  be  remembered  in  all  coming  time  by  those 
who  tread  the  straight  and  narrow  way  which  they 
marked  out.  Their  lives  were  not  in  vain.  "The  stone 
that  smote  the  image  became  a  great  mountain  and  filled 
the  whole  earth." 

I  returned  to  my  home  at  Sabbathday  Lake  on  Satur- 
day, the  thirty-first.  Elder  Henry  G.  Green,  of  the  Al- 
fred Society,  came  also,  and  we  had  the  blessing  of  his 
presence  over  the  Sabbath,  and  several  days  following. 
The  young  receive  encouragement,  and  the  weak  in  faith 
are  strengthened  by  his  steadfast  spirit. 

As  I  have  in  mind  at  this  time,  the  home  at  Alfred, 
"Beautiful  for  situation,"  and  also  the  home  at  Sabbath- 
day  Lake,  I  exclaim  with  the  prophet,  "How  goodly  are 
thy  tents,  O  Jacob,  and  thy  tabernacles,  O  Israel !  As 
the  valleys  are  they  spread  forth,  as  gardens  by  the  riv- 
er's side,  as  the  trees  of  lign-aloes  which  the  Lord  hath 
planted,  and  as  cedar  trees  beside  the  waters." 


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TO  THE  CEDARS  OF  LEBANON. 


"The  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple;  let  all  the  earth  keep  silence 
before  him." 

"  His  foundation  is  in  the  holy  mountains." 

Therefore  "my  heart  is  inditing  a  good  matter."  It  is 
'of  the  "Mount  Lebanon  Cedar  Boughs,"  a  book  the 
Hterature  of  which  is  of  the  highest  type,  gems  of  poetic 
genius,  written  by  the  Queen's  Daughters,  whose  cloth- 
ing is  of  wrought  gold.  By  them  it  is  dedicated  not 
only  to  the  household  of  faith,  but  to  all  yearning  souls 
in  the  wide,  wide  world. 

They  are  boughs  from  the  Cedars  of  Lebanon.  The 
trees  are  still  there,  waving  in  grandeur  and  beauty. 
They  are  poems  sent  forth  to  enlighten  and  educate,  and 
to  make  manifest  the  intellectual  power  that  has  been 
attained  in  the  spiritual  communistic  life.  Under  no 
other  condition  can  a  door  be  open  for  such  a  pure  and 
refined  education  as  that  acquired  in  the  home  that  has 
peen  prepared,  whose  foundation  is  in  the  holy  mountain. 

Here  in  this  favored  retreat  minds  have  been  disci- 
plined until  sordid  desires  have  been  subdued,  selfish- 
ness destroyed,  and  the  animal  nature  overcome.     From 


I04  THE    ALETHEIA. 

this  altitude  they  look  upon  the  children  of  men,  ever 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  draw  them  up  to  higher 
and  purer  lives.  It  is  to  this  cause  they  give  their 
strength  from  day  to  day,  and  as  they  give,  they  renew 
their  strength  from  the  overflowing  fountain  of  God's 
love.  They  walk  and  do  not  faint,  they  run  and  do  not 
weary. 

Here  also  is  found  that  mine  of  intellectual  wealth 
from  which  these  Cedar  Boughs  have  emanated.  We 
read  one  poem  ;  it  is  beautiful,  and  we  want  to  call  your 
attention  to  it.  We  read  another;  it  is  equally  good, 
and  so  on,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  book. 

The  Mother  in  the  Deity  is  here  made  manifest.  The 
Mother  Spirit  in  the  New  Creation  here  stands  in  her 
place.  The  virgins  that  follow  her  are  brought  unto 
the  King  in  raiment  of  needlework;  with  gladness  and 
rejoicing  they  come,  for  grace  is  poured  into  their  lips. 
They  ride  prosperously,  because  of  truth  and  meekness 
and  righteousness. 

Thus  the  Cedars  of  Lebanon  wave  in  majesty,  distilling 
dew  and  sending  forth  "boughs"  for  the  healing  of  the 
nations. 

The  Daughters  of  Zion  have  arisen  to  thresh  and  to 
beat  in  pieces  many  peoples,  and  they  will  "consecrate 
their  gain  unto  the  Lord,  and  their  substance  unto  the 
Lord  of  the  whole  earth." 

Amen,  so  let  it  be. 


m  ? 

o 

c 


i  ^  5 


2?    C 

PI 

c 


DEDICATION    AT    POLAND   SPRINGS   OF  THE 
MAINE  STATE    BUILDING.^* 

ALSO  THE  CELEBRATION  OF  THE  CENTENNIAL  OF 
THE  RICKER  FAMILY  AS  HOTEL  PROPRIETORS 
IN  THE  TOWN  OF  POLAND,  ME.,  JULY  ist,  iSgs. 

The  day  was  seemingly  made  for  the  occasion.  It  was 
a  beautiful  day  when  the  great  men  of  the  State  of 
Maine  met  upon  her  loveliest  spot  of  ground. 

The  Shakers  had  been  kindly  invited  by  the  proprie- 
tors to  be  present,  and  be  assured  we  availed  ourselves 
of  the  privilege. 

A  number  of  our  people  went  early  and  had  front 
seats.  Our  carriage  came  a  little  later  and  stopped  in 
the  road  opposite.  We  were  near  enough  to  hear  dis- 
tinctly all  that  was  said,  and  see  the  speakers  upon  the 
platform. 

We  heard  the  governor  of  the  State,  Honorable  Henry 
B.  Cleaves,  deliver  an  able  address.  The  next  speaker 
was  a  Judge  Advocate-General  of  Massachusetts. 


*  Removed  from  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  Grounds  at  Chi- 
cago, 111.,  and  re-erected  in  the  grove  near  the  Poland  Spring  House 
by  Hiram  Ricker  &  Sons. 


I06  THE    ALETHEIA. 

Senator  Eugene  Hale  was  then  introduced.  I  would 
like  to  tell  you  all  that  he  said,  but  can  only  give  you  a 
small  portion.  He  apostrophized  the  building,  and  said 
to  it,  "  My  young  friend,  if  you  are  wise  and  sensible 
stay  right  where  you  are  and  thank  the  Lord  that  you 
are  out  of  Chicago.  You  ought  to  feel  like  a  man  who 
has  just  emerged  from  an  election  riot  in  the  lower 
streets  of  New  York  City,  and  has  launched  himself  into 
the  placidity  of  a  Shaker  meeting  here  in  the  State  of 
Maine.  You  ought  to  be  glad  that  you  are  rid  of  noise, 
and  temptation,  and  anarchists,  my  young  friend,  and 
that  you  have  come  down  here  where  Nature  sits  at  her 
best,  and  broods  lovingly  over  such  a  scene  as  human 
eyes  have  rarely  witnessed." 

He  then  spoke  of  what  the  Rickers  had  done  here  in 
the  past  and  in  the  present.  He  said:  "They  do 
everything  in  a  delightful  way — do  it  handsomely,  do  it 
well.  They  are  great  benefactors.  Talk  about  the  dis- 
covery of  America  in  1492,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
Hiram  Ricker,  who  discovered  this  spring,  was  a  greater 
benefactor  than  Christopher  Columbus.  The  man  who 
is  able  to  give  us  a  good  digestion,  sleep  all  night,  and 
that  perpetual  serenity  which  the  old  English  essayists 
talk  about,  does  more  good  than  the  man  who  dis- 
covers a  country." 

Senator  Hale  said  much  more,  equally  interesting  and 
true,  when  Senator  William  P.  Frye  took  the  stand.  He 
kept  the  people  laughing,  and  the  applause  was  so  great 


SPEECHES.  107 

that  we  could  hardly  hear  what  he  said;  but  we  know 
the  mothers  and  sisters  of  the  Ricker  family  were 
brought  in  for  their  share  of  the  honors  of  building  up 
this  beautiful  place.  God  bless  him  for  this!  And  he 
spoke  of  another  mother,  whose  home  was  in  sight  upon 
another  hill  like  unto  this,  who  reared  up  so  many  of  the 
great  men  of  the  nation,  namely,  the  Washburns.  Thus 
he  held  the  people  entranced  throughout  the  length  of 
his  speech. 

The  next  speaker  was  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley,  Jr.  We 
listened  spellbound  to  his  glowing  words,  but  his  dis- 
course was  altogether  too  short,  for  it  was  but  a  few 
minutes  before  the  chairman  introduced  Hon.  Charles 
A.  Boutelle,  of  Bangor,  Maine,  Member  of  Congress. 

In  the  course  of  his  speech  he,  in  a  vein  of  mirthful- 
ness,  mentioned  Massachusetts  as  once  being  a  part  of 
Maine.  He  said:  ''We  are  proud  of  Massachusetts. 
We  are  glad  of  what  she  has  achieved  with  the  assistance 
which  we  have  given  her  from  time  to  time.  We  are 
glad  that  we  have  furnished  her  her  best  Governors, 
such  as  Andrew  and  Long.  We  are  proud  that  we 
have  given  her  her  merchant  princes,"  etc.  His  words 
sent  a  thrill  of  delight  through  the  audience,  especially 
those  who  were  natives  of  Maine.  We  were  glad  to  be 
reminded  of  how  much  the  dear  old  State  of  Maine  had 
to  be  proud  of  in  her  daughter,  Massachusetts. 

The  last  speaker  was  Gen.  A.  P.  Martin,  of  Boston. 
He  kept  up  the  interest  by  a  fine  flow  of  oratory.     His 


I08  THE    ALETHEIA. 

native  place  was  about  three  miles-  distant,  in  New 
Gloucester.  He  loved  these  hills  and  dales,  over  which 
he  roamed  in  the  days  of  his  boyhood.  He  quoted 
poetry,  and  his  themes  were  grand  and  beautiful. 

The  dinner  hour  had  now  arrived,  and  all  were  called 
to  a  sumptuous  repast,  such  as  only  can  be  found  at  the 
Poland  Spring  Hotel,  given  freely  by  the  proprietors  to 
the  hundreds  of  people  who  were  upon  the  ground  that 
lovely  day. 

Thus  passed  one  of  the  most  pleasant  seasons  in  our 
existence.  Not  only  was  the  dedication  of  the  Maine 
building  a  complete  success,  but  the  centennial  of  the 
Ricker  family  as  hotel  proprietors  in  Poland  was  made 
prominent  by  each  of  the  speakers. 

A  little  over  one  hundred  years  ago,  Eliphaz  Ring,  the 
Shaker,  owned  this  hill  with  the  broad  fields  and  wood- 
lands bordering  on  the  lakes.  He  owned  the  spring, 
and  drank  its  healing  waters  without  a  thought.  Little 
did  he  imagine  what  the  future  would  develop.  But  it 
was  not  for  him  nor  his  posterity.  He  heard  and 
obeyed  the  call  to  a  higher  life,  when  the  Shakers  held 
meetings  in  these  homes,  commencing  in  November 
1783.  He  occupied  his  home  here  with  his  family  until 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Shaker  Society  at 
Alfred,  Maine,  in  1793.  Our  Society  at  Sabbathday 
Lake  was  organized  under  the  same  leadership,  the  19th 
of  April,  1794,  as  was  stated  in  a  former  chapter. 

Jabez  Ricker,  ancestor  of  these  proprietors,  owned  one 


MAINE  STATE   BLILUIXG. 
In  the  grove  near  the  Poland  Spring  House,  South  Poland,  Maine. 


SHAKER    FAMILIES.  IO9 

of  the  farms  where  the  Society  at  Alfred  is  located.  He 
owned  the  mill  privilege.  By  an  act  of  kindness  to  the 
Shakers,  he  consented  to  exchange  farms  with  Eliphaz 
Ring,  and  moved  his  family  to  this  hill  and  here  opened 
a  hotel  one  hundred  years  ago.  By  this  bargain  the 
Shakers  in  Alfred  came  into  possession  of  their  valuable 
mill-privilege,  and  some  of  their  richest  lands  between 
the  beautiful  lakes,  Massabesic  and  Bunganut. 

Eliphaz  Ring  moved  his  family  to  Alfred  about  this 
time,  and  they  were  among  the  leading  members  of  the 
Shaker  Society  while  they  lived.  I  think  that  none  of 
them  turned  back  to  the  old  way,  • 

Ruth,  a  daughter  of  Eliphaz,  had  married  Thomas 
Cushman  of  Buckfield,  Maine.  They  became  Shakers, 
and  went  to  Alfred  with  the  Ring  family.  They  had  two 
sons.  One  of  them  chose  the  Shaker  life,  and  became  a 
highly-respected  member  and  Elder  in  the  Alfred  Soci- 
ety. The  other  son  remained  outside,  and  is  the  ances- 
tor of  some  of  the  nicest  people  in  Auburn,  Maine. 

Thomas  Cushman  was  the  financial  leader  of  the  Al- 
fred Society  a  number  of  years.  He  afterwards  became 
Bishop  of  the  three  Societies  in  Maine.  He  was  loved 
by  all  the  people,  but  they  had  to  part  with  him.  He 
died  in  the  year  1816,  being  only  fifty-seven  years  of 
age.  His  successor  was  Elisha  Pote,  of  whom  mention 
has  been  made  in  this  book. 

The  Society  at  Gorham,  Maine,  moved  to  the  southern 
Rang  Hill,  one  mile  from  Poland  Springs,  in  1819.     In 


I  lO  THE    ALETHEIA. 


1887  it  was  merged  into  the  Society  at  Sabbathday  Lake. 
Thus  we  see  that  God's  ways,  though  to  us  inscrutable 
at  the  time,  have  in  these  cases  finally  brought  good  to 
all  concerned. 


THE  SHAKER  SETTLEMENTS  OF  CANTERBURY 
AND  ENFIELD,  N.  H. 


[From  the  AIanifesto.'\ 

It  was  a  lovely  morning — October  22d,  1897 — when 
Elders  William  Dumont  and  Henry  Green,  Eldress  Eliz- 
abeth Haskell  and  the  writer  started  from  Alfred,  Maine, 
for  a  visit  to  the  Societies  of  Believers  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. Through  a  clear,  crisp  atmosphere  the  smoking 
engine  hurried  us  along  over  hill  and  through  dale,  by 
pleasant  woodlands  and  cultivated  farms  to  Alton  Bay. 
Then  for  a  number  of  miles  along  the  shores  of  Lake 
Winnipiseogee,  through  whose  clear,  placid  waters  could 
be  plainly  seen  the  white,  pebbly  bottom  of  the  lake. 
One  view  of  Mt.  Washington,  far  to  the  north-west,  and 
we  are  off  to  Laconia,  at  which  station  we  are  made 
glad  by  meeting  two  brethren  from  Canterbury,  Elders 
Benjamin  Smith  and  Arthur  Bruce,  with  carriages  to 
take  us  to  their  pleasant  village,  twelve  miles  distant. 
We  arrive  as  the  shades  of  evening  are  falling,  and  are 
welcomed  to  one  of  our  most  beautiful  homes  by  our 
own  Brothers  and  Sisters.  All  things  needed  for  our 
comfort  are  amply  provided  by  their  love  and  care.     The 


I  I  2  THE    ALETHEIA. 

days  of  our  visit  come  and  go,  all  pleasant  days,  bring- 
ing pleasures  and  surprises  manifold. 

In  the  office  of  the  Manifesto,  our  beloved  Elder, 
Henry  C.  Blinn  explains  to  us  the  machinery  by  which 
our  thoughts  are  stamped  upon  paper,  and  the  little 
pamphlets  are  made  which  carry  our  ideas  to  the  So- 
cieties of  Believers  and  to  the  outside  world ;  all  done  un- 
der his  watchful  guidance.  He  then  took  us  to  his 
museum,  where  are  carefully  stored  many  relics  of  old, 
so  interesting  to  us  in  these  latter  days.  We  saw  the 
skeleton  in  the  closet,  reminding  us  that  we  are  "fear- 
fully and  wonderfully  made,"  and  while  these  earthly 
forms  are  moldering  in  the  dust,  the  spirit,  which  is  the 
reality,  is  marching  on  in  the  beautiful  life  beyond. 

We  are  visiting  with  those  we  long  have  loved,  and 
are  surrounded  by  scenes  which  call  to  mind  historical 
events  of  the  old  times.  Not  the  least  of  these  is  the 
building  in  which  the  Sacred  Roll  was  printed  in  the 
year  1843.  Before  us  we  seem  to  see  Philemon  Stewart 
in  all  the  glory  of  his  great  inspiration.  Of  our  com- 
pany, only  one  can  remember  those  days. 

The  evenings  are  delightfully  enjoyed.  One  evening 
we  listened  to  the  quartet,  to  the  piano  and  organ,  the 
next  to  the  orchestra ;  but  the  evening  in  which  the  pil- 
grims marched  to  the  Holy  City  was  the  entertainment 
which  took  the  palm.  We  saw  the  beautiful  city  with  its 
battlements  and  towers.  We  saw  the  shining  ones  pass- 
ing out  and  in,  guiding  the  pilgrims  along  their  weary 


DAVJD  PARKER. 
Formerly  Trustee,  East  Canterbury,  N.  H. 

"  Not  all  a  dream,  a  passing  dream, 

Is  Life's  unfoldment  here  ; 
Earth's  brightest  glories  are  but  gleams 

From  out  the  inner  sphere. 
What  hopes  and  longings  fill  the  heart, 

.^nd  lift  the  mind  on  high — 
They  tell  that  the  immortal  part 

Can  never,  never  die." 


SHAKER    SETTLEMENTS.  II3 

way.  We  saw  Doubt  and  Scorn  and  all  the  powers  of 
evil  vanquished.  Then  the  door  was  opened  to  receive 
them,  amid  the  rejoicing  of  the  angels. 

Under  the  loving  control  of  Eldress  Dorothy  A.  Dur- 
gin  these  entertainments  are  perfected  and  carried  out. 
The  magnetism  of  her  spirit  smooths  down  the  rough- 
ness, always  strengthening  the  weak  and  drawing  out 
the  good.  It  is  the  divine  Mother  Spirit  in  her,  per- 
sonified. 

"  Beauty  reigns  all  around  thy  borders, 
Where  her  lovely  feet  have  trod  ; 
Peace  and  order,  love  and  union. 
In  the  power  and  gift  of  tiod." 

As  time  passes  on  the  Sabbath  comes.  This  day  is 
marred  by  no  cloud.  It  is  a  perfect  day.  At  the  ap- 
pointed hour  the  sanctuary  is  opened,  not  only  for  the 
Believers,  but  also  for  those  friends  who  choose  to 
attend.  The  singing  is  in  perfect  harmony,  and  most 
beautiful  and  inspiring. 

In  this  service  we  had  the  privilege  of  listening  to  a 
discourse  from  Brother  T.  A.  Dwyer,  late  from  the  out- 
side churches,  and  now  established  in  the  New  Jerusalem 
which  hath  come  down  from  God  out  of  heaven.  The 
Word  is  held  forth  in  perfect  language,  and  as  the  testi- 
mony of  true  Shakerism  falls  from  his  lips,  we  cannot 
wonder  that  the  two  thousand  who  listened  to  his  plead- 
ing tones  in  the  Universalist  church  in  Laconia,  turned 
to  their  homes  in  tears  of  joy  and  new  resolves  for  the 
s 


I  14  THE    ALETHEIA. 

future.  Thus  will  the  old  heavens  and  earth  pass  away 
and  all  things  become  new.  This  day  came  to  a  close 
like  the  others,  and  it  will  never  be  forgotten. 

In  the  course  of  the  coming  week,  Elder  Henry  C. 
Blinn  and  Eldress  Emeline  Hart  conducted  us  to  their 
home  in  Enfield.  Eldress  Joanna  Kaime  met  us  at  the 
door,  and  her  kind  welcome  gave  us  the  assurance  that 
we  were  not  among  strangers,  but  with  our  near  and 
dear  relations.  Great  kindness  is  shown  to  us  in  this 
home,  where  Elder  Abraham  Perkins  spent  so  many 
years  of  his  devoted  life,  the  home  of  his  heart's  deep 
love. 

We  remained  nearly  a  week  in  this  beautiful  place. 
Visited  the  North  Family,  which  was  the  home  of  Elder 
John  Lyon,  that  great  expounder,  who  kept  the  sieve  full 
and  kept  it  shaking.  Would  that  he  were  here  now,  to 
continue  the  work  until  the  deserted  villages  were  filled 
with  the  "Elect,"  "sought  out  and  chosen." 

The  scenery  here  is  magnificent.  The  brethren  of 
our  company  went  to  a  lake  far  up  the  mountain,  on  the 
west,  fifteen  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  village, 
from  which  the  Society  is  always  sure  of  an  abundant 
supply  of  water.  It  seems  to  be  in  the  crater  of  an  old 
volcano,  and  there  is  no  danger  that  it  will  ever  break 
away  and  damage  property. 

Elder  William  Wilson  very  kindly  took  us  around 
Mascoma  Lake,  east  of  the  village,  pointed  out  the  spot 
where  the  first  Shaker  meeting  was  held  in  New  Hamp- 


LUCY  ANN  SHEFAKD. 
Trustee,  East  Canterbury,  N.  H. 

'  As  the  dew  of  the  morning,  or  as  bright  rivers  roll, 
So  freely  God's  blessings  flow  into  my  soul. 
I  walk  in  his  presence  as  one  greatly  blest. 
On  whose  soul  the  love  of  his  work  is  impressed  " 


SHAKER     SETTLEMENTS.  I  1 5 

shire,  where  the  home  of  James  Jewett,  the  first  convert, 
was  situated,  and  where  John  Cotton  received  faith,  he 
being  the  first  one  to  bring  the  gospel  testimony,  after 
the  order  of  our  Church,  into  the  State  of  Maine.  That 
meeting  was  held  the  8th  of  September,  1782. 

We  stopped  a  day  over  our  time  that  we  might  meet 
Eldress  Rosetta  Cummings  and  Sister  Caroline  Whitcher, 
and  three  young  Sisters  who  were  absent  from  home. 
We  enjoyed  a  lovely  visit  with  them  in  the  afternoon. 
In  the  evening  we  had  our  farewell  visit  with  the  Minis- 
try and  Elders,  only  for  the  present,  however;  many 
meetings  are  to  be  in  the  future. 

The  next  day  we  were  taken  to  the  station  by  Brother 
George  Baxter,  and,  saying  farewell  to  him  until  our  next 
meeting,  we  retraced  our  way  to  Canterbury.  When  we 
arrived  in  Concord  the  rain  was  falling  in  gentle  showers. 
Elder  Henry  Green  left  us  at  this  point  for  Boston, 
homeward  bound.  W^e  were  expecting  Sister  Lucy  Ann 
Shepard  and  a  company  of  Sisters  from  Canterbury,  who 
were  on  their  way  to  Boston.  We  enjoyed  an  hour's 
visit  with  these  loved  ones,  and  then  went  on  to  Canter- 
bury with  the  young  brethren,  leaving  the  sisters  to  take 
the  train.  When  we  drove  up  to  the  office,  many  anx- 
ious ones  were  there  to  meet  us ;  although  the  rain  was 
pouring,  the  quartet  was  out,  singing  of  the  "patter,  pat- 
ter of  the  rain." 

One  day  more  in  lovely  Canterbury,  which  is  to  be 
well  improved.     We  are  granted  another  short  visit  with 


I  1 6  THE    ALETHEIA. 

our  dearly  loved  Sister  Asenath  Stickney,  who  is  suffer- 
ing from  injuries  received  from  a  severe  fall ;  also  an 
additional  visit  with  Sister  Harriet  Hastings,  whom  we 
have  all  known  to  love.  Then  we  enjoy  a  delightful 
season  with  Elder  Abraham  Perkins,  and  tell  him  of  our 
visit  to  his  home  in  Enfield.  He  bears  up  remarkably 
under  his  ninety  years. 

By  the  kindness  of  our  Canterbury  friends,  Sister 
Edna  E.  Fitts  is  to  accompany  us  to  our  home  at  Sab- 
bathday  Lake,  stay  with  us  during  the  winter  and  teach 
music.  The  last  morning  arrived,  and  with  Sister  Edna 
we  were  taken  to  the  station  in  Laconia.  Here  we  part 
with  Elder  Benjamin  and  Elder  Arthur,  who  have  been 
so  kind  to  us,  and  are  on  our  way  home.  We  stop 
at  Alfred  over  night,  and  go  on  to  Sabbathday  Lake  the 
next  day.  All  is  well.  We  again  take  up  the  thread  of 
life  in  the  old  accustomed  way.  Our  music  teacher 
arranges  her  classes  and  commences  her  labor  of  love. 
Music  is  in  the  atmosphere  and  a  song  of  rejoicing  in 
our  souls, — a  song  that  can  only  be  learned  by  the  hun- 
dred forty  and  four  thousand.  The  half  has  not  been 
told. 


THE  DAY  OF  JUDGMENT. 


The  light,  at  first  a  glimmer 

Along  the  eastern  way, 
Is  beaming  forth  in  splendor 

The  dawning  of  the  day. 
White  mists,  like  billowy  mountains, 

From  water-courses  rise, 
And  sparkling  with  the  sunbeams, 

Blend  with  ethereal  skies. 

Throughout  the  gloom  and  darkness 

We  kept  the  vestal  light, 
And  heard  the  voice  from  Seir, 
"  Watchman,  what  of  the  night?  " 
"  Behold  the  morning  cometh. 
The  Mighty  One  is  here." 
Was  sounded  from  the  watch-tower, 
"The  Judgment  Day  is  near." 

O  not  as  ye  expected 

Does  Gabriel's  trumpet  sound  ! 
The  still,  small  voice,  in  whispers. 

Is  heard  by  all  around. 
O  not  as  ye  expected 

Does  Christ  through  heaven  ride  ! 
The  Living  God  is  in  you. 

You  can  not  turn  aside. 


I  I  8  THE    ALETHEIA. 


And  not  as  ye  expected 

Will  Christ  atone  for  you  ; 
The  light  which  now  ariseth 

Will  search  you  through  and  through. 
Upon  the  vestal  altars 

The  holocaust  is  slain, 
And  fires  thereon  are  burning 

The  pride  of  man  to  stain. 

And  not  as  ye  expected 

Will  all  the  dead  arise ; 
The  dead  in  sin  are  hastening 

To  make  the  sacrifice. 
The  bruised  reed  is  strengthened, 

The  sick  and  lame  are  healed 
And  to  the  feast  invited, — 

The  Book  is  now  unsealed. 

Come  ye  unto  the  banquet. 

The  door  no  man  can  close, 
And  war  has  been  proclaimed 

Against  inherent  foes. 
With  Michael's  mighty  army 

Defy  the  man  of  sin. 
O  not  as  ye  expected 

The  Judgment  Days  rolls  in  ! 


THE  STORY  OF  GRANVILLE  MERRILL,  WHICH 

IS  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  ONE  OF  THE 

MIRACLES  OF  THE  AGE. 


Granville  Merrill  was  a  man  of  God. 

He  became  a  member  of  the  Shaker  Society  at  the 
age  of  twenty-nine  years. 

Nathan  Merrill,  who  was  the  first  person  that  em- 
braced Shakerism  in  New  Gloucester,  Maine,  was  his 
great-grandfather.  That  was  in  November,  1783.  He 
was  a  brick  mason,  and  went  to  Alfred  to  help  the 
people  there  build  chimneys.  It  happened  to  be  at  the 
time  that  the  Shaker  ministers  arrived  with  John  Cotton 
from  Enfield,  N.  H. 

Many  of  the  Alfred  and  Gorham  people  became 
Shakers.  Prominent  among  them  was  Elisha  Pote. 
His  father's  home  was  here  in  New  Gloucester,  also  his 
brother  Samuel's.  Their  two  farms  are  included  in  this 
property. 

Nathan  Merrill,  with  Elisha  Pote,  who  afterwards  be- 
came the  Presiding  Elder  of  the  Societies  in  Maine,  and 
some  others  came  here  and  held  meetings — Elisha  did 
the  preaching. 


I20  THE    ALETHEIA. 

Nathan  Merrill  was  the  first  to  accept  the  faith.  Then 
his  family  and  many  others  became  Shakers.  This  has 
all  been  recorded  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

In  one  of  the  first  years  Nathan's  son  Amos  and  one 
of  the  Shaker  sisters,  Mary  Twombly,  fell  away  and  were 
married.  They  were  the  parents  of  Hiram  Merrill,  the 
father  of  Granville. 

There  was  more  or  less  Shaker  faith  in  all  those  who 
turned  away,  and  their  descendants  inherited  in  a 
measure  the  same  spirit. 

Granville's  grandmother,  who  was  JNIary  Twombly, 
when  she  was  quite  aged,  came  here  to  see  the  aged 
sisters,  who  were  the  companions  of  her  girlhood  days. 
They  wept  together.  She  said,  "  I  wish  you  had  not  al- 
lowed me  to  go,  I  wish  you  had  tied  me  in  the  old  wash- 
house  garret."  The  sisters  said,  "You  did  not  feel  in 
that  way  then." 

Granville  Merrill  was  born  January  22d,  1839,  in  New 
Gloucester,  Maine,  about  two  miles  south  of  Shaker 
village. 

The  neighborhood  was  in  a  low  state  morally.  He 
was  taught  to  smoke  tobacco  when  only  three  years  of 
age.  Men  would  come  to  his  father's  house  to  spend 
social  evenings  and  almost  always  had  their  liquor. 
Granville's  father  had  him  carry  round  the  glasses  and 
treat  the  company,  and  gave  him  a  little  for  himself, 
which,  he  said,  would  slip  clown  easily.  Of  course  there 
was  more  or  less  drunkenness,  with  its  attendant  evils. 


ELDKK   JUSKPIl    II  OI.l Jl'.N. 
Of  the  Central  Ministry^  Mount  Lebanon,  N.  V. 

United  in  bonds  of  one  sweet  communion, 
Woildliness  bears  no  charm  for  souls, 
Riches  will  perish  with  all  earthly  treasures, 
While  spiritual  life  will  always  remain. 


J.  H. 


THE    STORY    OF    GRANVILLE    MERRILL.  I  2  I 

In  this  atmosphere  Granvalle  Hved  and  moved  and  had 
his  beingr  until  he  arrived  at  manhood. 

When  about  nineteen  years  of  age  he  was  hired  b}-  the 
Shakers.  Worked  for  them  nearly  ten  years  before  he 
thought  of  being  a  Shaker.  He  had  a  pleasant  disposi- 
tion, was  honest  and  a  faithful  workman.  Towards  the 
last  of  that  time  he  was  married,  and  had  a  child  who 
was  not  born  until  after  he  became  a  Shaker. 

When  he  was  about  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  he  was 
what  is  called  converted,  in  a  revival  meeting  that  was 
held  near  his  home,  and  became  a  praying  Christian. 

When  asked  which  denomination  he  intended  to  join, 
he  said  he  did  not  know.  He  would  read  the  New 
Testament  and  see  what  Jesus  said,  and  join  the  church 
that  came  the  nearest  to  the  teachings  of  Jesus. 

So  he  read,  and  the  more  he  read  the  clearer  he  saw 
that  the  Shakers  were  living  the  life  laid  down  in  the 
New  Testament.  Now  came  the  struggle.  Whenever 
he  prayed,  the  promise  he  had  made  would  rise  up  before 
him.  Then  he  would  stop  praying  and  suffer  from  a 
condemned  conscience. 

He  went  on  in  this  way  several  weeks,  until  he  could 
bear  it  no  longer.  He  knew  it  was  the  call  of  God  to  him 
to  sacrifice  all  worldly  pleasures  and  enter  the  straight 
and  narrow  way  and  become  one  of  the  sons  of  God. 

Now  when  his  mind  was  made  up  he  testified  his  faith 
both  publicly  and  privately,  and  commenced  to  use  the 
simple  "  yea"  and  "  nay"  of  believers. 


122  THE    ALETHEIA. 

It  was  a  fearful  trial  to  his  wife.  He  made  every 
effort  to  bring  her  over  to  his  way  of  thinking.  In  this 
he  failed  and  she  became  the  foe  of  his  household.  He 
gave  her  his  earnings,  which  amply  supplied  all  she 
needed  for  herself  and  the  child.  They  owned  a  little 
place  free  and  clear,  which  now  she  enjoyed  by  herself 
while  he  took  up  his  abode  with  the  brethren. 

After  a  while  she  sued  for  a  divorce,  alleging  that  her 
husband  had  joined  the  Shakers.  The  divorce  was 
granted,  for  which  Granville  paid  the  costs.  He  also 
gave  her  the  place  and  one  hundred  dollars  in  money. 

He  now  considered  himself  free  and  gave  all  his  in- 
terests to  the  people  of  his  choice,  and  became  fully  con- 
secrated to  the  Cause  of  Believers. 

He  never  saw  his  little  boy  after  this.  The  child  soon 
went  to  live  with  his  grandparents  on  the  mother's  side. 
She  went  away  and  in  due  course  of  time  was  married 
again.     Her  maiden  name  was  Anna  Partridge. 

Thus  our  brother  bade  adieu  to  his  wife  and  child 
and  all  worldly  relations.  His  testimonies  were  crisp 
and  pointed.     On  one  occasion  he  said  these  words : 

"I  have  entered  the  straight  and  narrow  way  and  will 
turn  neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left.  By  the  help  of 
God  every  evil  shall  go  under  my  feet." 

He  made  his  first  confession  in  the  presence  of  Alonzo 
Gilman,  who  was  at  that  time  the  novitiate  Elder.  As 
Granville's  home  was  in  the  lower  village,  he  was  one: 


THE    STORY    OF    GRANVILLE    MERRILL.  I23 

mile  away  from  where  Elder  Alonzo  was  stationed  at 
Poland  Hill. 

One  day  he  went  up  to  do  this  momentous  work. 
Elder  Alonzo  happened  at  that  time  to  be  very  busily 
engaged  in  hand  labor,  and  could  not  attend  to  him. 
The  burden  did  not  fall  from  his  shoulders  at  the  foot 
of  the  cross,  like  that  of  Bunyan's  Pilgrim.  He  had  to 
take  it  back  home  and  wait  for  another  opportunity.  He 
went  up  the  next  day  and  again  found  Elder  Alonzo  too 
busy  to  give  him  his  attention.  So  he  brought  the  bur- 
den back.  In  two  or  three  days  he  went  up  the  third 
time  and  found  Elder  Alonzo  prepared,  and  the  burden 
fell  from  his  shoulders.  He  had  carried  it  up  that  steep 
hill  to  the  foot  of  the  cross  three  times,  but  the  release- 
ment  was  to  him  a  sure  reward. 

It  was  only  temporal  labor  that  hindered  Alonzo  from 
attending  to  that  most  sacred  duty.  That  was  not  right. 
The  spiritual  should  always  come  first.  But  the  trial  did 
not  hurt  Granville. 

From  this  day  his  walk  was  straight  and  every  indul- 
gence cut  off.  As  required  of  all  believers,  he  put  his 
hands  to  work  and  gave  his  heart  to  God. 

It  was  a  shock  to  his  constitution  to  leave  off  tobacco, 
which  he  had  always  used,  but  by  a  strong  will  power  he 
accomplished  the  feat,  and  never  indulged  in  that  vile 
weed  from  the  day  he  started  in  the  self-denying  way 
until  he  closed  this  life. 

Up  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  his  work  at  the 


124  THE    ALETHEIA. 

mill  or  wherever  it  might  be.  Breakfast  with  the 
brethren  at  six  and  right  back  to  his  work,  no  lingering 
in  the  waiting-room.  To  dinner  in  the  same  way.  No 
nooning.  Ready  for  the  meeting  in  the  evening,  always 
in  possession  of  a  spirit  determined  for  the  right  and  the 
right  alone.  Pleasant  and  cheerful  through  all  that 
might  arise  to  cloud  the  day.  Ready  and  willing  to  go 
here  and  there  when  desired  to  make  repairs,  wherever 
they  were  needed.  Thus  he  was  always  found  to  be  the 
same  kind  brother. 

He  began  missionary  work  soon  after  he  came  in. 
There  was  a  young  man  living  in  the  family  of  our  next 
neighbor.  His  name  was  William  Dumont,  nineteen 
years  of  age.  Though  of  a  lively  disposition,  he  was  of 
a  thoughtful  turn  of  mind.  Our  aged  Elder  Joseph 
Brackett  said  one  day,  "William  Dumont  would  make  a 
good  Shaker,  and  I  will  get  him  if  I  can."  Granville 
made  answer :  "I  have  thought  the  same  thing  and  will 
do  all  I  can  to  help  draw  him  out  from  the  sea."  He 
then  began  with  prayers  and  spiritual  labors  whenever 
an  opportunity  presented  itself.  He  was  very  persis- 
tent, and  the  work  soon  beo^an  to  have  an  effect. 

After  a  while  our  young  brother  acknowledged  hear- 
ing the  call  to  a  higher  life.  Then  the  struggle  com- 
menced, for  he  had  been  promised  a  vessel  and  was  to  be 
the  captain.  He  had  many  misgivings  and  finally  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  he  could  live  the  higher  life  out- 
side and  not  bind  himself  to  this  community. 


WILLIAM   DUMONJ-. 
Sabbathday  Lake,  Maine. 

The  pearl  of  true  worth,  the  gift  of  salvation 
Is  free  for  all  who  the  price  will  pay, 
A  fullness  of  spiritual  beauty  and  glory, 
O'ershadows  the  pilgrim's  upward  way." 


THE    STimV    OF    GRANVILLE    MERRILL.  1 25 

When  Granville  found  where  he  stood  he  gave  him  a 
searching  look  and  said,  "They  that  are  not  for  us  are 
against  us,  and  they  that  gather  not  with  us  scatter 
abroad." 

Thus  our  young  brother  found  every  weapon  taken 
from  his  hands,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  a  full  consecra- 
tion. In  this  he  has  remained  faithful  to  this  day,  and  is 
now  the  leading  elder  of  the  Societies  in  Maine,  our 
Elder  William  Dumont. 

Granville  was  always  doing  good  works,  and  works 
that  followed  him.  He  was  a  first-class  mechanic.  Made 
with  his  own  hands  a  large  clock  and  hung  it  at  the  top 
of  one  of  the  buildings.  To-day,  it  can  be  heard  striking 
nearly  two  miles  away,  and  is  doing  the  full  duty  for 
which  it  was  designed.  Granville  manufactured  the 
machinery.  All  that  had  to  be  bought  in  its  make-up 
did  not  come  to  five  dollars.  He  also  manufactured  a 
small  steam  engine,  which  has  been  in  use  every  year 
since  for  many  things,  mostly  to  prepare  the  poplar  wood 
shavings  for  weaving  the  sisters'  basket-work. 

Thus  a  few  years  passed  when  it  was  noticed  that  his 
health  was  failing.  This  brought  anxiety  and  sorrow  on 
all  his  loving  brethren  and  sisters. 

Knowing  he  must  have  a  change  of  employment,  they 
had  him  take  the  sisters'  fancy  work  to  the  hotels  at  Bar 
Harbor,  Orchard  Beach  and  other  places,  and  make 
sales.  In  this  he  was  very  successful,  and  seemed  to 
gain  in  health.     But  the   gain    was    of   short   duration. 


126  THE    ALETHEIA. 

With  breaking  hearts  we  saw  that  he  was  slowly  and 
surely  passing  away  from  earth. 

Thinking  it  might  be  that  the  sudden  change  from 
tobacco  and  other  things  that  he  was  accustomed  to  had 
been  too  much  of  a  shock  to  his  constitution,  it  was  pro- 
posed to  him  to  use  a  little  tobacco.  "Nay,"  said  he,  "  I 
will  never  put  another  piece  of  tobacco  into  my  mouth." 
"Not  if  you  knew  it  would  save  your  life?"  said  Eldress 
Hester  Ann  Adams.  "Not  if  I  knew  it  would  save  my 
life,"  was  his  answer.  "I  will  keep  the  promise  I  have 
made  to  God." 

In  the  spring  of  1878  he  was  obliged  to  take  his  room, 
being  finally  brought  down  by  an  abscess  on  his  back, 
which  made  sure  work  taking  his  life  away. 

The  same  spirit  of  purity  and  brotherly  love  continued 
to  the  last.  He  had  a  thought  for  his  little  boy,  who 
was  cared  for  by  outside  relatives.  But  the  child  was 
taken  sick  and  died  the  February  before.  Granville  had 
proposed  to  take  him  under  his  own  care  when  he  ar- 
rived at  the  age  of  ten  years.  But  the  death  of  the  child 
and  his  own  sickness  intervened.  And  the  little  spirit 
was  ready  for  his  father's  kind  care  in  the  beautiful  life 
beyond,  which  we  fully  believe  he  received. 

On  his  bed  of  suffering  our  beloved  brother  was  sur- 
rounded by  loving  friends.  He  saw  their  sorrow  and 
their  tears.  "  Grieve  not  for  me,"  he  said,  "  I  will  not 
leave  you.  I  will  be  with  you  in  spirit.  Your  interest 
will  ever  be  mine,  I  will  see  that  you  have  some  one  else 


THE    STORY    OF    GRANVILLE    MERRILL.  1 27 

to  take  my  place."  We  well  know  that  he  has  fulfilled 
this  promise. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  of  July,  1878,  came  the 
silence.  We  had  to  realize  all  we  had  expected.  It  was  a 
beautiful  morning  when,  in  the  midst  of  the  nation's  re- 
joicing, he,  who  had  ruled  his  own  spirit,  arose  in  majesty, 
conqueror  of  the  world  and  of  death. 

We  had  a  beautiful  meeting,  called  by  some  "a 
funeral."  on  the  afternoon  of  the  fifth  of  July.  Then  the 
outward  form  of  our  brother  was  laid  away  in  our  little 
cemetery.     He  is  not  there. 

He  passed  from  our  sight  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine 
years,  five  months  and  thirteen  days. 

The  following  elegy  was  read  for  him  in  our  meeting: 

TO  OUR  ARISEN  BROTHER,  GRANVILLE  MERRILL. 

Come,  a  voice  is  calling  loudly, 

Come  away,  thy  work  is  done. 
Come ,  thy  cares  and  toils  are  ended , 

And  thy  earthly  race  is  run. 
Brother,  thou  hast  borne  with  pleasure 

All  that  was  allotted  thee  ; 
Thou  hast  won  a  heavenly  treasure 

In  the  land  of  purity. 

Beauty  blooms  all  round  the  mansion 

Which  is  thine  forever  more. 
And  the  mountains  rise  in  grandeur. 

On  that  bright,  eternal  shore. 
Trees  of  life  are  growing  upward, 

Beams  of  glory  rolling  down, 
And  the  angel  harps  attuneth 

In  sweet  praise  of  thy  renown. 


128  THE    ALETHEIA. 

When,  midst  youthful  strength  and  vigor 

Worldly  pleasures  promised  thee, 
Thou  didst  hear  the  Saviour  calling  : 

' '  Leave  thou  all  and  follow  me , ' ' 
Didst  thou  turn  aside  with  sorrow  ? 

Didst  thou  close  thine  eyes  and  ears? 
Leave  the  bitter  cup  untasted  ? 

Yield  to  stoic  doubts  and  fears? 

Nay,  thy  life  was  freely  given, 

All  thou  hadst  without  reserve, 
Every  tie  of  nature  riven, 

God  to  worship  and  to  serve. 
Wife  and  child,  upon  the  altar 

Spared  thou  not  nor  worldly  kin. 
Thou  didst  turn  away  from  Sodom , 

Turn  away  from  every  sin. 

Thou  hast  trod  the  road  of  straightness 

Followed  Christ  along  the  way. 
Till  this  path  has  led  thee  upward 

To  a  bright  unclouded  day , 
Now,  new  scenes  are  ope  before  thee 

And  thy  angel  guides  are  near. 
Mighty  hosts  of  God's  redeemed, 

Lo,  we  feel  their  presence  here. 

Soothing  all  our  bitter  sorrow. 

Giving  peace,  no  tongue  can  tell. 
Teaching  us  that  God  is  holy 

And  He  doeth  all  things  well ; 
Teaching  us  to  bow  in  spirit, 

To  be  reconciled  in  truth, 
That  we  may  the  prize  inherit, 

Each,  the  aged  and  the  youth. 

Now,  we  hear,  in  gentle  whispers, 
Voices  which  to  us  are  dear, — 

Voices,  which  are  saying  sweetly, 
Know,  thy  brother  standeth  near; 


ELDER  JOSEPH  BRACKETT. 
Our  aged  Father,  who  entered  the  land  of  rest  July,  1S82,  being  85  years  of  c 

"  Oh  the  beauty  of  that  land  ! 
How  divine  and  glorious, 
Where  the  saints  in  triumph  stand 
Singing  songs  victorious, 
There  through  vernal  bowers  of  love 
Float  sweet  gales  of  heaven  ; 
And  in  fullness  of  pure  bliss 
Angel  joy  is  given." 


THE    STORY    OF    GRANVILLE    MERRILL,  1 29 

He  hath  words  of  love  and  comfort ; 

He  hath  strength  he  would  impart ; 
Let  them  heal  each  wounded  spirit ; 

Let  them  sink  into  each  heart : 

"  Brethren,  I  am  with  you  always, 

With  you  to  the  end  of  time , 
I  will  bear  with  you  all  sorrows, 

Go  with  you  to  joys  sublime. 
Sisters,  in  this  pure  relation, 

I  would  greet  you  here  to-day. 
Do  not  feel  that  I  have  left  you. 

Do  not  think  me  far  away. 

"  I  will  labor  still  for  Zion, 

Still  devoted  to  the  cause , 
Help  support  her  glorious  standard. 

Help  sustain  her  sacred  laws. 
Lo,  I  feel  my  spirit  blessed, 

Lo,  I  feel  that  love  divine, 
Which  to  me  is  of  more  value 

Than  the  greatest  joys  of  time. 

"  And  I  thank  my  dear  companions 

For  the  love  you  've  given  me. 
O,  receive  my  love  and  blessing. 

Which  unmeasured  flows  to  thee. 
I  am  thankful  for  my  calling, 

Thankful  for  this  blessed  day. 
Now,  with  joy  and  pure  rejoicing 

I  will  hasten  on  my  way." 


THE     MISSION     AND     TESTIMONY     OF     THE 

SHAKERS  OF  THE  TWENTIETH  CENTURY 

TO  THE  WORLD. 


A    LECTURE    DELIVERED    AT    GREENACRE,    ELIOT, 
MAINE,  JULY  ig,    1904. 

It  is  the  mission  of  the  reaper. 

Are  the  fields  white  for  the  harvest  ?  Jesus  thought 
they  were  in  His  day. 

The  sharp  sickle  in  the  hands  of  the  reaper  is  to  cut 
souls  from  the  generative  life  and  garner  them  into  the 
spiritual. 

That  was  the  mission  of  Jesus, — to  teach  a  higher  life 
than  the  generative  to  the  few  who  were  able  to  live  that 
higher  life.  His  words  were:  "All  cannot  receive  the 
saying.  He  that  can  receive  it,  let  him  receive  it." 
And  His  meaning  was, — let  him  subdue  that  animal 
nature  into  which  the  spirit  of  evil,  an  enemy,  has  sown 
tares. 

"If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself 
•and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me." 

"They  that  are  Christ's  have  crucified  the  flesh  with 
the  affections  and  lusts." 


MISSION    AND    TESTIMONY    OF   THE    SHAKERS.  I3I 

"It  is  a  hard  saying;  who  can  hear  it?"  said  the  mur- 
muring ones.  But  there  were  those,  even  in  that  day, 
who  did  receive  it,  wilHngly  and  thankfully,  who  by  daily 
self-denial  subdued  every  animal  passion,  made  their 
spirits  beautiful  and  refined,  and  entered  the  spirit  life 
purified  and  redeemed. 

The  question  is  almost  always  propounded:  "If  all 
should  do  this,  what  would  become  of  the  world?" 

"Straight  is  the  gate  and  narrow  is  the  way,  and  few 
there  be  that  find  it."  So  the  world  is  safe,  as  far  forth 
as  the  cross  of  Christ  is  concerned. 

The  mission  and  testimony  of  the  Shakers  is  as  much 
to  those  living  in  the  marriage  relation  as  to  those  who 
have  a  call  to  live  above  it.  The  trumpet  speaks  in 
thunder  tones  to  those  who  would  bring  forth  an  off- 
spring to  people  the  world:  "Your  vessels  are  marred 
in  the  potter's  hands  and  must  be  made  over  by  regener- 
ation," were  the  words  of  one  of  the  first  Shaker  Elders. 

Every  soul  that  you  bring  into  the  world  must  be  born 
again,  from  the  natural  into  the  spiritual,  either  in  this 
life  or  the  next. 

The  Shaker  testimony  is,  to-day,  and  always  has  been, 
burning  hot  against  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness,  and 
here  is  where  the  Cross  of  Christ  comes  in.  When  the 
people  of  the  world  become  perfect  in  their  generations, 
even  as  Noah  was  perfect  in  his,  what  an  improvement 
there  will  be  in  the  race?  What  noble  and  God-like 
men  and  women  will  become  developed !     The   golden 


132  THE    ALETHEIA. 

aee  will  then  dawn  when  Christ  will  bring-  in  an  everlast- 
ing  righteousness. 

As  Buddha  said  to  the  people  in  his  day,  "  Hear  the 
five  rules  aright."  So  we  would  lay  before  you  the 
Karma  of  the  Christian,  "Whatsoever  a  man  soweth, 
that  shall  he  also  reap." 

And  to  you  who  are  ripened  for  the  harvest  we  would 
say,  "Enter  the  Path."  "For,"  said  Buddha,  "There 
spring  the  healing  streams,  quenching  all  thirst!  There 
bloom  the  immortal  fiowers."  Forsake  the  plain  of 
nature  and  come  up  into  the  spiritual  where  Christ  is. 
"They  that  are  Christ's  have  crucified  the  flesh  with  the 
affections  and  lusts."  You  that  would  people  the  world, 
rise  above  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness.  Take  not 
one  unnecessary  step  to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  a  de- 
praved nature. 

The  impress  of  the  life  you  live  is  stamped  upon  your 
features.  You  carry  all  your  animal  desires  into  the 
next  life.  There  no  language  is  needed,  and  your 
thoughts  will  be  open  before  thousands  of  spirits,  with 
whom  you  will  come  in  contact.  You  will  call  upon  the 
rocks  and  the  mountains  to  fall  upon  you  to  cover  you 
from  the  pure  eyes  of  the  redeemed.  Even  here,  our 
thoughts  are  plainly  seen  by  both  the  good  and  the  evil 
spirits  who  surround  us. 

"  Are  not  thousands  now  beholding 
Every  action,  word  and  way, 
And  our  very  thoughts  unfolding 
In  the  blaze  of  endless  day?  " 


MISSION    AND    TESTIMONY    OF   THE    SHAKERS.  1 33 

F'eticide  is  murder,  and  can  never  be  tolerated  in  the 
light  of  the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth  which  God 
is  creating.  Bring  up  your  children  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord,  for  you  will  be  held  accountable 
for  the  evils  you  have  planted  in  them  that  ma)-  grow 
and  develop. 

Messenofers  are  now  abroad  in  the  world  who  are  in- 
spired  b)*  the  Christ.  Here  we  find,  in  our  beloved 
Sister  Sarah  Jane  Farmer,  a  divinely  inspired  woman 
whom  we  greet  in  the  fullness  of  the  love  of  the  angels 
of  the  New  Creation  of  God.  A  voice  comes  to  us  from 
a  teacher  and  man  of  God  in  Russia,  Count  Leo  Tolstoi, 
condemning  all  those  evils  that  would  destroy  the  human 
race.     The  trumpet  gives  no  uncertain  sound. 

You  send  missionaries  to  the  Far  East  to  teach  the 
people  there  your  mistakes,  when  lo,  and  behold,  there 
are  those  in  those  countries  who  could  teach  the  people 
of  the  United  States  a  better  life  than  is  generally  lived. 
The  teachings  of  Jesus  and  the  life  he  lived  are  a  good 
and  sure  test  for  our  lives.     As  said  the  poet  Whittier : 

' '  Thou  judgest  us  ;  thy  purity 
Doth  all  our  lusts  condemn  ; 
'J'he  love  that  draws  us  nearer  thee 
Is  hot  with  wrath  to  them." 

Thus  we  have  given  you,  in  plain  words,  the  Testi- 
mony of  the  Shakers  of  the  twentieth  century  to  the 
world.  It  is  what  they  have  lived  out  for  more  than  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  years.     Thousands  of  them  have, 


134  THE    ALETHEIA. 

by  a  daily  cross,  subdued  all  selfishness  and  every  evil 
passion,  and  entered  the  next  life,  bright  and  beautiful 
spirits. 

Principles  that  can  never  be  overthrown  by  the  ad- 
vance of  science  have  long  been  understood  in  the 
Shaker  Order. 

The  Duality  of  God,  Father  and  Mother,  Christ,  the 
Divine  Spirit  emanating  from  them,  able  to  reach  and  in- 
spire every  soul  made  worthy  by  good  works.  Jesus, 
the  perfect  man,  born  of  noble,  human  parentage,  wholly 
imbued  with  the  Christ,  and  the  Leader  into  the  higher 
spiritual  life. 

Progression  after  death.  The  travel  of  the  soul  from 
one  degree  of  grace  and  glory  to  another  throughout  the 
ages  of  eternity.  All  the  souls  who  have  ever  passed 
from  this  life  into  the  world  of  spirits,  must  sometime 
enter  this  progression  and  be  saved  by  the  cross,  by 
walking  in  the  straight  and  narrow  way. 

"There  is  a  path  which  no  fowl  knoweth,  and  which 
the  vulture's  eye  hath  not  seen.  The  lion's  whelps  have 
not  trodden  it,  nor  the  fierce  lion  passed  by  it." 

There  will  be  a  great  work  for  the  heavenly  angels 
and  purified  spirits  to  do  to  assist  those  who  are  far  from 
God,  for  all  those  lost  ones  must  be  sought  out  and 
drawn  by  love  as  soon  as  they  desire  to  receive  help. 

When  the  Christ  Spirit  becomes  enthroned  in  any 
soul,  then  the  work  of  separation  will  commence  in  that 
soul.     The   good   from    the    evil;     the    wheat  from  the 


MISSION    AND    TESTIMONY    OF    THE    SHAKERS.  1 35 

tares ;  the  sheep  from  the  goats.  To  the  good  the  soul 
will  say,  "  Come  and  live  and  grow."  To  the  evil  the 
sentence  will  be:  "Depart  from  me  and  be  destroyed." 
No  compromise  with  the  evil. 

Jesus,  inspired  by  the  Christ,  said:  "I  am  the  resur- 
rection and  the  life."  Therefore,  the  fact  that  one  is 
living  the  high  life  that  Jesus  lived,  does  away  with  all 
old  forms  and  ceremonies. 

You  would  like  to  know  how  the  Shaker  Order  came 
into  being.  I  will  tell  you  something  of  it  in  a  few 
words  : 

In  the  year  1770,  Ann  Lee,  a  young  woman  in  Man- 
chester, England,  belonged  to  a  society  called  New 
Lights,  originating  from  the  Quakers.  They  were  very 
zealous  and  held  noisy  meetings,  which  offended  those 
of  the  established  church. 

One  Sabbath,  all  in  that  little,  noisy  meeting  were 
arrested  and  imprisoned,  Ann  Lee  with  the  others.  She 
was  married  and  had  had  four  children,  but  they  all 
died  in  infancy. 

While  she  was  in  prison,  the  spirit  of  Jesus  came  to 
her  and  gave  her  a  mission  to  give  to  the  world — the 
same  mission  and  testimony  that  he  delivered  so  many 
hundred  years  before,  and  the  same  that  we  give  you 
to-day. 

The  society  and  some  others  received  her  testimony. 
She  remained  in  England  about  four  years  after  this, 
when,  in  the  words  of  one  of  the  first  old  Shaker  hymns : 


136  THE    ALETHEIA. 

' '  The  Columbian  Eagle , 

Borne  by  an  eastern  breeze, 
Conveyed  this  little  kingdom 
Across  the  rolling  seas." 

A  man  of  wealth,  by  the  name  of  John  Hocknell,  be- 
lieved the  testimony  of  Ann  Lee,  and  was  one  of  a  com- 
pany of  eight  who  came  to  America  with  her.  They  ar- 
rived in  New  York  the  6th  of  August,  1774. 

John  Hocknell  bought  land  and  provided  them  with  a 
home  at  Watervliet,  near  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  remained 
faithful  through  life  and  was  a  great  help  to  the  Com- 
munity both  financially  and  spiritually.  Others  who  be- 
lieved soon  came  over,  which  made  quite  a  little  com- 
pany in  the  home  at  Watervliet. 

A  religious  revival  was  in  progress  at  New  Lebanon, 
about  twenty-five  miles  away.  Early  in  1780  the  sub- 
jects of  the  revival  found  out  about  Ann  Lee,  visited  her 
and  her  people,  received  the  Testimony  and  gave  all 
they  had  to  her  cause.  There  was  a  great  stir,  and 
thousands  from  the  country  round  about  believed  and 
became  firmly  established  in  the  faith. 

Ann  Lee,  inspired  by  the  Christ,  taught  a  full  conse- 
cration, and  a  denial  of  all  ungodliness  and  every  worldly 
lust.  From  this  small  beginning  societies  were  formed 
that  are  now  in  existence. 

She  was  called  Mother  from  the  first,  and  she  is  our 
Mother  to-day,  clothed  in  garments  of  purit)-,  brighter 
than  the  noonday  sun. 


MISSION'    AND    TESTIMONY    OF    THE    SHAKERS.  1 3/ 

"  O  Mother  !   bright  in  thy  glory, 
We  see  thee,  'mid  halos  of  light. 
Crowned  in  thy  victory,  bathed  in  purity, 
Thy  robes  are  eternally  white." 

Her  brother,  William  Lee,  and  her  adopted  son,  James 
Whittaker,  were  two  of  the  number  who  came  with  her 
from  Eno-land.  They  became  elders  and  fathers  to  the 
people.  With  her  and  others  they  journejed  through 
several  states  of  the  union,  holding  meetings  and  mak- 
ing converts;  often  followed  by  persecuting  mobs,  but 
always  sustained  b)-  an  over-ruling  power ;  always  pro- 
tected when  seemingly  there  was  no  chance  for  life  or 
limb.  Their  converts  numbered  thousands,  and  all  this 
was  done  in  four  years'  time. 

Mother  Ann  Lee  died  Sept.  8th.  1784,  being  forty- 
eight  years  of  age.  A  little  over  a  month  previous  to 
her  death,  occurred  the  death  of  William  Lee,  which 
took  place  July  22d. 

All  the  believers  were  now  left  to  the  care  and  spiritual 
guidance  of  Father  James  Whittaker.  He  received  able 
assistance  from  Joseph  Meacham,  who  was  the  leader  in 
the  revival  at  New  Lebanon  and  the  first  to  receive  the 
testimony  of  Mother  Ann  in  America.  We  call  him 
Father  Joseph.  Father  James  Whittaker  died  July  20, 
1787. 

Soon  after  this,  under  the  administration  of  Father 
Joseph  Meacham  and  Mother  Luc)-  Wright,  the  societies 
were    organized  in  the  different  states  where  the  word 


138  THE    ALETHEIA. 

had  been  planted.  A  covenant,  or  constitution  was  pro- 
vided by  which  the  communities  have  been  strongly  held 
and  guided  to  this  day. 

During  the  years  from  1800  to  1805,  a  great  religious 
revival  was  in  progress  throughout  the  states  of  Ohio 
and  Kentucky.  At  that  time  Shaker  missionaries  went 
there  from  New  Lebanon  and  established  six  large 
Shaker  societies.  Eighteen  Shaker  societies,  scattered 
over  the  United  States,  moved  in  harmonious  union  for 
many  years,  and  I  may  say,  up  to  this  time.  We  are 
less  in  numbers,  but  the  power  of  the  testimony  is  the 
same.     Principles  are  eternal. 

Under  the  benign  influence  of  this  Order,  thousands 
were  reared  from  childhood  to  old  age,  whose  lives  were 
as  perfect  as  could  be  lived  in  this  world.  Men  and 
women,  enjoying  each  others'  society  as  brothers  and 
sisters,  loving  each  other  with  a  pure,  unselfish  love,  as 
high  above  the  lusts  of  the  flesh  as  heaven  is  above  the 
lower  regions. 

Thus  an  hundred  fold  of  fathers  and  mothers,  brothers 
and  sisters,  houses  and  lands  have  been  realized  in  this 
life,  and  thousands  of  spirits  have  entered  the  eternal 
world  in  clean  garments,  all  selfishness  and  every  evil 
passion  subdued. 

We  will  refer  to  one  phase  in  the  history  of  the 
Order.  During  the  year  1837  a  spiritual  wave  rolled 
through  all  the  Shaker  societies — a  powerful  baptism, 
similar  to  that  of  the  Day  of  Pentecost.     The  work  com- 


MISSION    AND    TESTIMONY    OF   THE    SHAKERS.  I39 

menced  among  the  children  and  passed  along,  affecting 
the  youth,  middle-aged  and  aged.  It  continued  for 
years,  and  was  in  vogue  when  modern  Spiritualism  com- 
menced at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  1848.  The  work  was  at  its 
height  in  all  the  Shaker  societies  up  to  the  year  184(3, 
when  it  subsided  in  a  measure,  but  has  never  entirely 
passed  out.  The  Shakers  are  now,  and  always  have 
been,  ministered  unto  by  their  angel  friends,  who  have 
passed  into  the  next  life. 

During  the  time  of  this  manifestation,  from  1837  on 
through  the  early  forties,  books  were  written  by  divine 
inspiration.  Thousands  of  manuscripts  were  written  by 
the  Shaker  mediums  from  those  beyond  the  veil.  These 
are  now  extant.  Many  are  living  at  this  time,  both  in 
and  outside  the  Shaker  societies,  who  were  witnesses 
and  can  testify  to  the  truth  of  these  things. 

Marvelous  was  the  power  revealed  through  the  Shaker 
mediums,  who  were  mostly  young  brethren  and  sisters. 
They  were  inspired  to  speak,  to  write  and  to  sing.  Song 
after  song  they  would  sing,  new  and  beautiful,  both 
words  and  music.  These  songs  are  remembered  and  re- 
tained in  the  archives  of  the  Shaker  societies.  There 
were  no  tipping  of  tables  nor  rappings,  but  the  angels 
spoke  to  the  souls  of  the  people,  and  were  understood. 

They  were  told  that  the  work  would  go  abroad  in  the 
world,  and  were  watching  for  that  event  to  take  place, 
and  were  not  at  all  surprised  at  the  commencement  and 
subsequent  growth  of  modern  Spiritualism. 


140  THE    ALETHEIA. 

As  it  Stands  to-day  the  Shakers  are  well  aware  of  the 
fraud  and  deceit  practiced  by  some  who  claim  to  stand  in 
the  ranks  of  Spiritualists ;  but  they  know  it  will  work 
itself  clear  and  act  as  leaven,  overthrowing-  false  systems 
and  creeds,  and  preparing  the  people  for  the  millennium. 

Good  and  evil  are  typified  by  light  and  darkness. 
Therefore,  if  we  bring  a  light  into  a  dark  room,  the  dark- 
ness disappears,  and  inasmuch  as  a  soul  is  filled  with 
good,  evil  will  disappear. 

THEORY  AND  FACT. 

Though  all  things  made  must  be  destroyed, 

Though  earthly  kingdoms  fall, 
Forever  let  us  bear  in  mind 

That  heaven  is  over  all. 
And  when  this  suffering  house  of  clay 

Is  laid  beneath  the  sod, 
The  thinking  spirit  shall  exist. 

This  is  decreed  of  God. 
Immortal  child,  then  mourn  no  more, 
But  count  thy  many  blessings  o'er. 

Our  earth  is  surrounded  by  thousands  of  elements 
which  our  eyes  cannot  see,  finer  than  the  crude  air  which 
we  breathe,  extending  beyond  the  most  distant  stars 
throughout  the  boundless  immensity  of  space.  Of  these 
elements  our  future  spiritual  homes  are  composed.  Of 
these  elements  our  spiritual  bodies  are  made. 

God,  our  infinite  Mother,  created  the  beautiful  things, 
the  flowers  and  the  singing  birds,  music  and  the  visions 
which    flow    into  the  soul  of  the  poet.     She  is  forever 


MISSION    AND   TESTIMONY    OF   THE    SHAKERS.  I4I 

drawing  us  nearer  and  nearer  unto  her  beautiful  Self,  the 
source  of  elegance  and  refinement.  She  is  leading  us 
beside  the  still  waters. 

Christ  is  the  overbrooding  love  emanating  from  our 
Heavenly  Father  and  Mother. 

Christ  is  the  Crown  which  the  Christian  Pilerim  saw  the 
Angel  holding  over  the  head  of  the  man  who  was  digging 
in  the  dirt  with  a  muck  rake,  and  never  raising  his  eyes 
from  his  sordid  employment.  As  he  never  looked  up- 
ward, he  did  not  know  of  the  Angel,  nor  of  the  Crown, 
which  he  might  have  for  his  own  by  paying  the  price. 

Jesus  was  a  perfect  man,  who  gave  his  whole  life  to  do 
good.  And  the  Christ  spirit  descended  upon  him  in  the 
form  of  a  dove  and  remained  with  him. 

The  same  beautiful  spirit  came  to  his  disciples  as  the 
Comforter  at  the  Day  of  Pentecost. 

Jesus  was  a  man  without  fault,  inspired  by  the  Christ. 

Ann  Lee  was  a  woman  without  fault,  inspired  by  the 
Christ. 

Any  one  can  become  the  Christ,  by  subduing  every 
animal  passion  and  rising  to  a  high  and  pure  life. 

"They  that  are  Christ's  have  crucified  the  flesh  with 
the  affections  and  lusts." 

When  I  say  "Christ"  I  mean  the  Spirit. 

When  I  say  "Jesus"  I  mean  the  Man. 

Jesus  was  the  Christ  when  he  said,  "Come  unto  me 
all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  you 
rest,"  etc. 


142  THE    ALETHEIA. 

Jesus  was  the  Man  when  he  overturned  the  money 
tables,  and  drove  the  people  from  the  temple. 

He  evidently  regretted  that  rashness  which  so  jarred 
upon  His  gentle  Spirit,  for  he  was  soon  heard  to  repeat 
the  quotation,  "The  zeal  for  My  Father's  house  hath 
eaten  me  up," 

Thousands  of  young  women,  ruined  by  their  own  and 
the  lust  of  men,  are  committing  suicide  to  cover  their 
disgrace.  The  testimony  against  that  depraved  nature 
should  be  powerful  enough  to  cause  men  and  women  to 
hate  it  with  a  perfect  hatred,  and  to  rise  so  high  above  it 
in  spirit,  as  never  to  entertain  one  thought  of  indul- 
gence. 

From  above  the  magnificence  of  the  landscape  in  a 
beautiful  morning,  and  the  sublimity  of  the  rolling  waves 
of  the  ocean  ;  from  above  the  grandeur  of  the  rising  and 
setting  sun,  and  all  the  glories  that  this  world  can  be- 
stow; from  above  all  these,  there  cometh  an  inspiration, 
clothing  the  purified  spirit  in  garments  of  beauty,  reveal- 
ing the  name  of  God  written  upon  the  forehead  of  the 
undefiled  soul.  Thus  shall  the  Children  of  Light  stand 
before  the  multitude. 

The  Cross  of  Christ  is  now  to  be  brought  very  closely 
home. 

The  Shaker  Order  is  founded  upon  three  unchange- 
able principles: 

First. — Upon  joining  this  Society,  a  confession  of 
every  sin  that  one  has  ever  committed,  which    can    be 


MISSION    AND    TESTIMONY    OF   THE    SHAKERS.  1 43 

called  to  mind,  must  be  made  in  the  presence  of  a  living 
witness  of  his  or  her  own  sex,  one  who  has  gone 
through  the  same  crucial  test. 

Second. — From  henceforth  a  life  above  the  order  of 
natural  generation  is  required  in  letter  and  in  spirit.  If 
one  falls  from  this  hiofh  standard  he  ceases  to  be  a 
Shaker  until  restored  by  confession  and  repentance. 

Third. — There  must  be  a  community  of  interests,  a 
settlement  with  lawful  heirs  of  whatever  property  one 
has  in  possession,  and  what  there  is  over  given  to  the 
Society  with  a  consecration'  of  time  and  labor,  for  the 
good  of  the  Cause.  This  is  not  accepted  by  the  Society 
until  one  has  had  ample  time  for  consideration.  If,  after 
this,  he  falls  away,  the  Society  is  under  no  obligation  to 
return  to  him  all  that  he  thus  willingly  gave,  but  in  such 
cases  a  satisfactory  settlement  has  generally  been  made. 

Comments  relating  to  the  preceding: 

"I  looked,  and  lo,  a  Lamb  stood  upon  Mount  Zion 
and  with  Him  an  hundred,  forty  and  four  thousand," 
having  the  name  of  God  written  upon  their  foreheads. 
These  are  the  undefiled  followers  of  Jesus.  They  have 
washed  their  robes  and  made  them  white  by  living  the 
life  that  Jesus  lived.  A  new  song  is  in  their  souls, 
which  only  the  undefiled  can  learn,  and  all  the  promises 
to  the  overcomer  are  theirs,  the  white  stone  with  the 
new  name,  etc.  These  have  been  searched  as  Jerusa- 
lem, with  candles. 

The  time  is  at  hand  when  God  will  shake  terribly  the 


144  'THE    ALETHEIA. 

earth.  Watch  and  see  the  creeds  fall  and  the  false 
systems  overturned.  He  will  "stain  the  pride  of  all 
flesh  and  bring  into  contempt  the  haughtiness  of  man." 
When  the  conscience  of  any  one  brings  him  to  that  con- 
dition that  he  is  willing  to  appear  before  God  in  judg- 
ment, and  in  the  presence  of  one  of  his  fellowmen  who 
has  done  the  same  work  himself,  make  a  confession  of 
all  his  sins,  he  will  find  his  pride  stained  and  his  haughti- 
ness brought  into  contempt.  He  will  also  find  that  he 
has  become  a  child  of  God. 

How  plain  the  outward  mien  bespeaks  the  mind, 

And  shows  the  heart  that 's  to  the  will  of  God  resigned. 

There  's  love  in  every  action,  word  and  way. 

Which  all  around  can  feel  from  day  to  day. 

These  have  risen  to  the  beautiful  life  of  the  Christ. 

Their  motives  all  are  just,  their  hearts  are  pure, 

And  nothing  base  and  vile  can  they  endure. 

No  selfishness  in  them  can  find  a  place. 

What  greater  picture  can  be  found  of  Heavenly  Grace  ! 


CHRIST,  THE  SPIRIT, -JESUS,  THE  MAN. 

I  SAW  a  light  descending , 

'T  was  hidden  many  years. 
I  saw  a  spirit  bending 

From  trans-meridian  spheres. 
Now  brooding  o'er  the  waters, 

That  light  has  taken  form , 
Which  nineteen  hundred  years  ago. 

Spoke  peace  and  calmed  the  storm. 

The  spirit  form  of  Jesus, 

The  man  of  God's  own  choice. 
Who  held  spell-bound  the  thousands 

And  demons  feared  his  voice , 
Still  reigns  in  realms  of  brightness, 

The  first  begotten  Son, 
The  head  of  many  brethren 

Who  unto  him  have  come. 

The  beautiful  Christ  spirit 

From  earth  was  far  away , 
In  waiting  and  in  watching, 

Might  have  been  there  to-day, 
Had  not  this  man  of  Israel, 

By  prayer  and  faith  and  love , 
Called  down  this  regal  Spirit, 

Whose  form  was  like  a  dove. 

This  spirit  rested  on  him. 
And  claimed  him  for  a  son, 

'Twas  then  that  God's  true  Order, 
On  earth  was  first  begun. 


146  THE    ALETHEIA. 

Confucius,  Zoroaster 
And  Buddha  of  renown, 

Hundreds  of  years  before  that  time 
Through  vistas  dark,  looked  down. 

And  saw  this  lovely  Messenger, 

On  Judea's  sacred  plain, 
When  loud,  unto  the  nations. 

This  truth  did  each  proclaim. 
And  prophesied  the  coming 

■Of  that  eventful  day 
When  Christ  should  be  revealed  to  man, 

And  show  the  perfect  way. 

That  light  again  was  hidden, 

Although  so  very  bright, 
And  darkness  covered  all  the  land, 

God's  work  was  out  of  sight. 
But  now  it  shines  again  on  earth. 

Most  beautiful  to  see, 
A  queen  is  decked  in  royal  robes 

We  call  her  name  Ann  Lee. 


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